§ MR. J. L. CAREW (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that the officers of the Grangegorman Prison, who were refused fuel had to be on duty in the halls and corridors from 6 to 10 p.m., the coldest period of the day, whereas none of the officers who were allowed fuel had to perform this duty; (2) what is the legal status of the superintendent; (3) whether, though it is contrary to law (7 George 4, c. 74), for a female to be the keeper of any prison, she is looked to as the officer in charge; and (4) whether though in compliance with the statute she is not permitted to hear and determine reports against prisoners for breaches of discipline, yet she determines complaints against officers, male or female, even to inflicting fines?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe facts are as stated in the first paragraph, though it is to be observed that the prison is heated in the cells and corridors, and that two of the three matrons who are allowed fuel in their bedrooms do not usually perform the particular duty referred to. Grangegorman is primarily a convict prison, and as such is free from the disability pointed out in the Question—the Act quoted not being applicable to convict prisons. The present superintendent holds the appointment under the same conditions as her predecessor, and is looked to as the officer in charge of the whole prison, though disciplinary punishments on local prisoners are inflicted by the chief warder. She hears and determines reports against convicts, and in the exercise of the disciplinary authority delegated to her by the Prisons Board as regards prison 292 officers serving under her orders, sire determines complaints against officers, male and female, and inflicts fines upon them.