The Irish Prison Service says all staff members at Castlerea prison are expected to be clean-shaven when they report for duty.
The IPS has issued a statement after the Irish Examiner reported today that a disagreement has broken out between Castlerea prison Chaplin Deacon Seamus Talbot and prison management after he refused to shave off his beard.
The deacon, who took up the role at the prison in November, has worn a beard for many years, and it's understood the issue arose soon after he took up the position.
The IPS says the ban on facial hair and beards is to ensure the effectiveness of the face-masks that are required to be worn as part of measures to mitigate against the spread of Covid.
Concern was expressed that prisoners had been left without a chaplaincy service at the Roscommon jail but the IPS has confirmed that a Chaplain has recently been appointed to Castlerea Prison and the service to prisoners continues to be provided along with all other services.
