Prison officers have blamed cutbacks and under-staffing for a rise in recent violent incidents in a number of jails around the State.
Two violent incidents occurred yesterday in Cloverhill, Dublin, and Portlaoise prisons yesterday in the midst of the Government's plan to reduce prison overtime by closing two jails.
In Cloverhill, prison officers say they averted a "showdown" between two groups of almost 40 prisoners who were armed with iron bars, screwdrivers and a hacksaw blade. The Prison Officers' Association said the two groups, who have a history of animosity towards each other, were forced to share the same gym due to recent cutbacks.
In another incident at Portlaoise yesterday, officers intervened to break up a "savage" attack in which two prisoners were injured. One of the prisoners was apparently beaten around the head with the legs of a table. He and another prisoner received medical attention in hospital yesterday afternoon.
Mr Nigel Mallen, the spokesman of the POA, said: "These types of incidents highlight the difficult job that prison officers do on behalf of society. The safety of prison officers, persons in their custody, and security of the prison or institution should not and cannot be compromised."
The POA has strongly criticised the timing of prison closures, which have taken place before the conclusion of talks in the Labour Relations Commission. However, a spokesman for the Minister said the preferred course of action was a resolution of the dispute. In the absence of this, the Minister had "no option" but to put his cost-cutting contingency plan into action.