Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has backed calls to incarcerate transgender women with a history of violence against women in men’s prisons.
The Limerick City TD said it is “most inappropriate that they should be incarcerated with women”, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Dea said Ireland should adopt a policy introduced in Scotland, where safeguards have been put in place to ensure transgender prisoners, who pose a danger to female prisoners, are held in male prisons.
Mr O’Dea said he would also support a nationwide debate on whether to create a separate prison or detention center for transgender prisoners in the future.
He also said he supports the call for similar protections from Women’s Space Ireland, a group campaigning for “single-sex spaces” for women and girls, reports Breaking News.
The group recently staged a silent protest with a banner reading ‘No men in women’s prisons’ outside the main entrance to Limerick prison.
“I would basically agree with that, there should be a separate prison regime for women. I know the prison service are saying all sorts of things, that they have special arrangements and this, that and the other; nevertheless when overcrowding happens, how well do those special arrangements hold up?” Mr O’Dea said, reports Breaking News.
Last week, Scottish Justice Minister Angela Constance said new prison safeguards would mean “no transgender prisoner with a history of violence or sexual offending against women can be placed in the women’s (prison) estate”, reports Breaking News.
While Mr O’Dea said he didn’t know if there would be enough transgender inmates to justify a dedicated transgender prison, he said the matter should be discussed.
He said he also supports calls from Women’s Space Ireland for safe spaces for women in prison, schools, the workplace and the public sphere.
Mr O’Dea said he planned to raise the group’s concerns in the Dáil and seek further information from Justice Secretary Simon Harris on a policy being drawn up by the Irish Prisons Service on how to deal with transgender prisoners.
A spokesperson for Women’s Space Ireland, Jill Nesbitt said: “Deputy Willie O’Dea’s comments in support of women who say there should be no males in women’s jails is very welcome. The most vulnerable of women deserve to have single-sex provision while in prison,” reports Breaking News.
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