Irish Episcopal Conference

Lobbying Organisation Irish Episcopal Conference

Date published 19 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details 1) Seeking to progress current situation regarding Irish people released on licence in UK; 2) Seeking to progress the repatriation of Irish prisoners overseas wishing to return to Ireland; 3) Discussing recent research on Foreign National Prisoners in Irish prisons by Maynooth University in partnership with ICPO and findings from research which, if implemented, would improve the situation of foreign national prisoners in Irish prisons.

Intended results 1) Policy change to allow the small number of Irish people wishing to return to Ireland while on licence from the UK to do so; 2) Improvements to current process to make it quicker and more efficient thus enabling transfers of Irish prisoners back to Ireland close to families; 3) Improvements to the situation of Foreign National prisoners in Irish prisons.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Bishop Paul Dempsey, Chair, ICPO; Ms Leslie Alcock, Coordinator, ICPO and Ms Catherine Kenny, Casework Information and Policy Officer, ICPO

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

One letter sent by Bishop Paul Dempsey, Chair, ICPO to An Taoiseach and one reply letter received from the Taoiseach's office.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

Two virtual meetings held on Zoom. Meetings were had with Ms Caron McCaffrey and other officials from the Irish Prison Service and with Mr Ben Ryan from the Department of Justice and other officials attended.

Email (2-5)

Two e-mails from Mr Thomas Pringle TD with responses from the Minister for Justice to a PQ he had asked on behalf of ICPO - recorded in last Lobbying period).

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Simon Harris An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Caron McCaffrey Director General (Irish Prison Service)

Ben Ryan Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)