Hi all,

This petition is for the removal of harsh covid restrictions currently being imposed in Irish prisons across the country. On the outside all restrictions have been removed since March 2022, including mandatory mask wearing. We can all hug and kiss our family members and loved ones, sit in a restaurant and pub, go to concerts with hundreds and thousands of strangers with no masks or social distancing but yet we are not allowed to hug our loved ones in prison. Physical contact is a basic human right for all and it is extremely detrimental to all involveds mental health to be refused such a right. For 2 and a half years this has been the case inside Irish prisons. We have watched elderly parents with terminal Illnesses be refused a hug from their sons, father's forced to watch their newborn babies through screens, children cry and be confused as to why they cannot hug their daddy, mother's and father be extremely hurt by not being allowed touch their sons, and partners cry for the same reasons. This is deplorable behavior from the IPS to allow this to go on for nearly 3 years. They are also issuing P19s which is a disciplinary action which affects their remission. To punish a person for hugging their loved one on a forthnightly visit is scandalous, and if we do not act now we are extremely concerned of the mental health and general wellbeing of prisoners, and unfortunately wouldn't be surprised if the IPS had suicides to deal with after the longevity of these harsh conditions.

Please sign and help us remove these harsh restrictions.