The Irish Prison Service has said that all family visits from Monday 10 January until Monday 24 January will be temporarily suspended.
Noting that it is aware of the importance of visits to prisoners and their families, it said that: "Due to the widespread community transmission of Covid-19 and in line with the Prison Rules 2007 which allows for the suspension of entitlement to visits", it will be suspending all physical family visits to prisons for a 14-day period.
The IPS said that all visits between 10 January and 24 January are now cancelled, but video visits will continue to operate as normal during this period and prisoners will be entitled to receive one video visit per week.
The IPS also said that: "Any person who has at this stage booked a visit should note that they will not be facilitated with access to the prison and no further bookings will be available at this time."
Physical visits requested on compassionate grounds by family members will be considered on a case by case basis but will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
The IPS said the restriction will be reviewed before the end of the 14-day suspension period, with any extension (or removal) of those restrictions being based on infection control advice at the time.
The IPS said that professional visits by legal advisers will, where possible, be conducted virtually but a physical visit may be facilitated.
Reacting to the news, the Irish Penal Reform Trust said that it is important that the suspension is temporary and that access to video calls, additional phone calls and mental health supports are provided.
Molly Joyce, Legal and Public Affairs Manager with the IPRT said: "Prison health is public health, and it is no surprise that the current surge is affecting prisons too.
"It is critically important now that all men and women in prison get equal access to the vaccine booster programme as in the community and, as is their right, that we don’t see the same delays in vaccine access as we did last year".
