Criminals could be released from prison early in an attempt to prevent a case of coronavirus behind bars.
The Irish Prison Service said they are in talks with the Department of Justice about contingency measures but reassured the public that no prisoner released early or granted temporary release would pose "an undue risk to public safety".
A spokesman said: "The unique environment of a prison and the sheer numbers and diversity of people who pass through our prisons make vigilance around infection prevention and control absolutely necessary.
"The Irish Prison Service announced yesterday that it was introducing restrictions regarding visits to our prisons to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to staff, prisoners visitors, prisoner families, and the wider community.
"The confirmation of a case of COVID-19 in a prison setting would present significant challenges for prison management in terms of controlling the spread of the virus amongst staff and prisoners, and the provision of appropriate medical treatment to affected persons.
"In this regard, the Irish Prison Service is in discussion with the Department of Justice and Equality on a number of contingency measures to reduce the number of people in custody in a controlled manner.
"The primary factor in the consideration of any prisoner for early release is public safety and no prisoner would be granted temporary release who poses an undue risk to public safety."
Fr Peter McVerry urged the freeing of inmates with less than two years to serve on sentences.
He said: “This is the only practical response. Preparedness and protocols will not matter in an overcrowded prison. A move to one-person one-cell is the only clear and logical solution”
Nearly 2,000 prisoners are sharing cells in Ireland’s jails.
Social policy advocate Keith Adams added: “There is a high risk of prisons becoming cluster-zones for Covid-19 due to cell sharing and a growing group of older prisoners.
“When the first case was confirmed, the prison population was over 4,200 with five prisons overcrowded.”
