The transfer of 90 prisoners and staff from the Curragh Prison in Co Kildare to Portlaoise began today under severe criticism from Labour Party justice spokesman Mr Joe Costello.
The prison has been closed as part of a cost-cutting exercise. The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said the closure was needed because he could not get prison officers to reduce their overtime to assist in over €60 million-worth of savings.
Three other detention centres will be closed as part of the measures with Spike Island prison in Cork next - on January 31st.
Mr Costello said the closures were unnecessary and brought about by the Minister's failure to negotiate with the prison officers.
"Everyone loses through this decision," he said.
"The services provided at the Curragh cannot be transferred elsewhere and the unnecessary disruption this decision has caused could have been avoided.
The Minister for Justice's aggressive stance in seeking confrontation with the POA rather than facilitating a settlement has ultimately led to the prison's closure," Mr Costello added.
However talks between the Prison Officers Association and the Irish Prison Service resumed today at the Labour Relations Commission today.
Both sides said considerable progress needs to be made before the impasse is broken. The officers are still unhappy at the annualised hours package on offer.
They will receive a pay increase of around €10,300 if they agree to work up to 360 hours overtime every year.