About 18 loyalists have applied for a transfer from the Maze prison to Maghaberry prison, both in Co Antrim, as part of a protest involving UVF inmates.
The Progressive Unionist Party, which has close links with the UVF, said loyalists are suffering because of an attempted IRA escape.
The PUP's prisons spokesman, Mr William Smyth, said the purpose of the transfer requests is to make things difficult for the authorities. He said it "bungs up" the system.
