There will be no more physical visits for the thousands of prisoners in Irish prisons – including Portlaoise Prison and the Midlands Prison.
The decision to suspend all physical visits has bee made in an attempt to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) will, from next week, offer inmates the chance to see and chat with their loved ones via special electronic platforms including the Internet and various video services.
A government spokesperson said: “The volume of people entering and exiting our prisons on a daily basis means effective infection control and vigilance is absolutely essential.
“Prisons are the home or the place of work of over 7,000 people and the IPS is taking a number of necessary measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 including the restriction of visits to prisoners.
“The IPS has made every effort to continue to run normal family visits for as long as possible. However, in the best interests of the health and safety of prison staff, prisoners and their families, from tomorrow normal physical visits will no longer be possible.
“Physical visits will be replaced by electronic visits via Internet platforms, video link and video-phone.
“Electronic visits will negate the need for visitors, for example, to gather in visitor centres at each prison and are in line with the recommendations announced this week by the Taoiseach.”
