AHERN PLEDGES CLAMPDOWN ON DRUGS IN PRISONS

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night pledged tough security measures
would eliminate the availability of drugs in Irish prisons.

However, he refused to be drawn on the issue of prison officers
being granted the power to arrest and detain visitors smuggling
drugs into jails.

Mr Ahern was placed under pressure after it emerged that more than
75pc of drug tests in prisons had proved positive over the past three years.

Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore accused the Government of failing
on its commitment to make prisons a drug-free area.

However, Mr Ahern said the figures were not "representative of all prisoners".

When tackled by Mr Gilmore on the subject of allowing prison
officers to arrest visitors bringing drugs into Irish prisons, Mr
Ahern said he was unsure of the legal consequences of such an act.

Mr Ahern said the Government was determined to eliminate the spread
of drugs in prison by using a "carrot and stick" approach.

"Security detectors are being used to search persons entering
prisons. The security in place is the same as that employed at
airports and is thus at a very high level. Previously, it involved
only random checks," he added.