Lobbying Records (Page 1 of 3)
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2023-05-21
Intent: To inform key stakeholders and key politicians of IPRT report on 'Maternal Imprisonment in Ireland: A Scoping Study', the particular challenges facing women in prison and the recommended IPRT actions in this area.
Details: Engagement with key stakeholders on issue of women in prison and specifically maternal imprisonment.
Officials: Ben Ryan, Oonagh McPhillips, Mark Wilson, Caron McCaffrey, Fergal Black
Methods: On 13 March 2023, IPRT's Acting Executive Director attended an IPS event at the Dochas Female Prison (in Dublin) on the topic of maternal imprisonment and spoke with both Director General of Irish Prison Service and Secretary General of Department of Justice on IPRT concerns in this area as well as upcoming planned work on women in prison (through IPRT's annual 'Progress in the Penal System' report). - Event / Reception, IPRT's Acting Executive Director, Molly Joyce, emailed range of key stakeholders to inform them of IPRT launch of report on 'Maternal Imprisonment in Ireland: A Scoping Study' on 2 March 2023 and make them aware of key IPRT recommendations in this area. - Email
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2023-05-21
Intent: To make key officials in the Irish Prison Service aware of challenges facing children/families of prisoners, and suggested solutions for addressing these issues.
Details: Engagement with Irish Prison Service on the issue of children/families impacted by imprisonment and the importance of family contact for prisoners
Officials: Fergal Black, Caron McCaffrey, Don Culliton
Methods: IPRT's Acting Executive Director, Molly Joyce, and Children & Families Coordinator, Ashling Tobin, met with IPS Director of Care & Rehabilitation (and colleagues) on 13 January and 18 April 2023 to communicate concerns from members of the Action for Children & Families Network and explore ways in which the IPS might address concerns. Issues discussed included: family visiting hours for prisons; facilities for children with additional needs; and access to phone/video calls. - Virtual Meeting, Following both of the above meetings, IPRT's Children & Families Coordinator, Ashling Tobin, wrote to senior staff within IPS to specifically follow up on Network members' concerns, including to the IPS Director of Operations (on the issue of security measures within prisons and the impact on families) and IPS Director General (on prison visiting times for families). - Letter
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2023-05-21
Intent: To meet with key contacts in criminal justice agencies at evening reception hosted by the British Embassy
Details: Engagement with key contacts in criminal justice agencies at reception in British Embassy
Officials: Ciairin de Buis, Fergal Black
Methods: On 10 February 2023, IPRT's Acting Executive Director attended a reception at the British Embassy at which a number of key contacts within the criminal justice sector (such as the Irish Prison Service and Parole Board) were in attendance. Discussions with individuals present at the reception included: mental health in prisons; operation of parole; and the current situation of overcrowding in prisons. - Event / Reception
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2023-05-21
Intent: To inform key contacts in Oireachtas of upcoming IPRT report, 'Progress in the Penal System', and invite them to attend launch event. ::To secure support of key contacts in Oireachtas in requesting information for 'Progress in the Penal System' report through parliamentary questions. ::To inform key contacts in criminal justice agencies / Department of Justice of upcoming IPRT report, 'Progress in the Penal System', and invite them to attend launch event.
Details: Engage with TDs/Senators and key stakeholders on IPRT 'Progress in the Penal System' Annual Report
Officials: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Patrick Costello, Patricia Ryan, Brian Stanley, Éamon Ó Cuív, Catherine Murphy, Martin Kenny, Catherine Connolly, ...
Methods: Between January and April 2023, IPRT (through Acting Executive Director and Policy & Research Coordinator) engaged with numerous TDs/Senators to: inform them of upcoming IPRT report, 'Progress in the Penal System'; request information for the report through parliamentary questions; and request support through attendance at the launch event (scheduled for May 2023). Further engagement was had with key contacts in criminal justice agencies to inform them of report and invite them to launch. - Email
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2023-01-20
Intent: To exchange knowledge and share IPRT views on remand with attendees at this event, which included UK MPs and Irish DPOs.
Details: Attendance at British Ambassador's Residence to Discuss Remand with Members of UK Justice Committee
Officials: Fergal Black, James Lawless
Methods: IPRT's Executive Director and Legal & Public Affairs Manager attended an event (following invitation) at the British Ambassador's residence to meet with members of the UK Justice Committee as part of a fact-finding trip they were conducting in regards the issue of remand / pre-trial detention. At this event, at which two DPOs were present, IPRT shared our concerns regarding the use of pre-trial detention in Ireland and suggestions on how the numbers on remand could be reduced. - Meeting
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2022-09-21
Intent: To raise awareness of key issues facing foreign national and minority ethnic groups in prison, and to highlight IPRT recommendations on addressing those issues.
Details: IPRT report on the rights, needs and experiences of foreign national and minority ethnic groups in prison
Officials: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Patrick Costello, Michael Creed, Pa Daly, Brendan Howlin, Martin Kenny, James Lawless, Thomas Pringle, ...
Methods: IPRT's Executive Director and Legal and Public Affairs Manager sent copies of research on the rights, needs and experiences of foreign national and minority ethnic groups in Irish penal system to key stakeholders, identifying key actions for the stakeholders as relevant to their areas of work and calling for the implementation of the recommendations. - Email
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2022-05-20
Intent: To further the objectives of, and set priorities for, the All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform.::To raise concerns around the ongoing use of prison as a response to lower-level offending and the impact of COVID in prisons.::To improve knowledge/ learnings around the operation and day-to-day issues arising within prison.
Details: All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform
Officials: Ivana Bacik, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Fergal Black
Methods: IPRT Legal and Public Affairs Manager and Executive Director met with co-chairs of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Deputy Ivana Bacik, on 2 February 2022 to discuss issues around impact of COVID in prisons, the continued overreliance on prison as a response to less serious offending, findings in the upcoming IPRT 'Progress in the Penal System' 2021 report, and the potential for a visit by IPRT and the co-chairs to prison. - Meeting, Exchange of emails on range of key penal reform priorities including: impact of COVID restrictions on families visiting prisons; concerns about the Prison (Amendment) Rules 2020 and ongoing COVID restrictions within prisons; the continued non-ratification of OPCAT; and the issue of legal visits to prisons and impact of COVID on people's access to lawyers. - Email, IPRT Legal and Public Affairs Manager attended visit to Mountjoy Prison and Dóchas Centre with co-chairs of All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform, during the course of which issues relating to women in prison, education in prison and drug treatment services etc were discussed. Some of these issues were also discussed with the Irish Prison Service Director of Care and Rehabilitation, Fergal Black. - Informal communication
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2022-05-20
Intent: To make recommendations around the improvement of rehabilitative opportunities both within and outside the prison system.
Details: An examination of rehabilitative opportunities within the prison system
Officials: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Patrick Costello, Michael Creed, Pa Daly, Brendan Howlin, Martin Kenny, James Lawless, Thomas Pringle, ...
Methods: IPRT was invited by the Justice Committee to make a submission on the topic of 'an examination of rehabilitative opportunities within the prisons system', and made that submission on 4 March 2022. The submission made a number of recommendations touching on: mental and emotional health supports within prison; drug and alcohol addiction services within prison; living conditions (e.g. single-cell accommodation and out-of-cell time) in prison; education within prison; life skills within prison; staff training and culture; post-release barriers and opportunities (e.g. with reference to spent convictions legislation); and general points around the lack of data available on key aspects of the criminal justice and penal system. - Submission, IPRT was invited to appear before the Justice Committee on 29 March 2022 as a result of its submission, alongside key agencies such as the Irish Prison Service. IPRT's Legal and Public Affairs Manager and Senior Policy and Research Officer appeared on behalf of the organisation and focused our opening remarks on key issues, including concerns around a return to pre-pandemic prison numbers and the impact that this would have on rehabilitation within prisons as well as the impact of COVID-19 on rehabilitative opportunities in the prison system. The in-person nature of this appearance also provided opportunities to speak with several members of the Justice Committee after the event (including e.g. Deputy Pa Daly, Senator Barry Ward and Senator Lynn Ruane) as well as the Director General and Director of Care and Rehabilitation in the Irish Prison Service. - Meeting
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2022-01-21
Intent: Promote awareness of the development of sentencing guidelines in Ireland::Advocate for the principle of imprisonment as a last resort to be enshrined in legislation
Details: Sentencing and Sentencing Guidelines in Ireland
Officials: Oonagh McPhillips, Ben Ryan, Barry Ward, Brendan Howlin, Caron McCaffrey, Claire Loftus, Don Culliton, Fergal Black, ...
Methods: Invitation to IPRT Prison Law Seminar on 'Developing Sentencing Guidelines for Ireland: The Principles and Purposes of Sentencing', which took place on Thursday 21st October 2021 (via Zoom). Speakers and respondents included: The Hon. Ms. Justice Iseult O’Malley, Chair of the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee, who provided the keynote speech; Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull, Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin and Member of the Scottish Sentencing Council; Professor Michael Tonry, McKnight Presidential Professor of Criminal Law and Policy at the University of Minnesota; Dr Ian Marder, Assistant Professor in Criminology at Maynooth University; Noeline Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre; and Molly Joyce, Legal & Public Affairs Manager at IPRT. - Event / Reception
Irish Penal Reform Trust
2022-01-21
Intent: Include families of prisoners within next Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan, and progress work of the Families and Imprisonment Group.::Increase and promote family contact (through correspondence, virtual visits and in-person visits).::Improve data collection and recording on the number of prisoners who have children, and improve communications for families of prisoners.
Details: Engage with Irish Prison Service on the Rights and Needs of Children and Families of Prisoners
Officials: Caron McCaffrey, Fergal Black, Don Culliton
Methods: Dr Fiona Donson and Sarahjane McCreery wrote to Director General Caron McCaffrey on 11th August 2021, seeking a meeting to discuss the needs of families of prisoners. Follow up letter sent to Mr Fergal Black (following meeting on 7th October), on 5th November 2021, identifying the issues discussed during meeting and noting the Action for Children & Families Network hope that a National Coordinator will be hired soon (with responsibility for devising strategy for children and families of prisoners). - Letter, Meeting held between Dr Fiona Donson and Sarahjane McCreery with representatives of the Irish Prison Service, including Mr Fergal Black (Director of Care and Rehabilitation), on 7th October 2021. Items discussed included family contact; improving data collection in this area; and ensuring families are included in the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plans. - Virtual Meeting