Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Joint open letter on repurposing of the Progression Unit in Mountjoy

Intended results Reconsider the repurposing of the Progression Unit in Mountjoy

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Saoirse Brady

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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Barry Ward (Currently employed as a DPO) Senator (Seanad)

Thomas Pringle (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)

Pa Daly (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)

Aodhán Ó Riordáin (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)

Lynn Ruane (Currently employed as a DPO) Senator (Seanad)

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 (1)

Executive Director signed joint letter with civil society organisations, academics and members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice to the Minister and Director General of the Irish Prison Service calling on them to reconsider the repurposing of the Progression Unit to accommodate people convicted of sex offences. IPRT Executive Director wrote to Director General of Irish Prison Service to raise concerns about the repurposing of the Progression Unit in Mountjoy.

Letter (1)

IPRT Executive Director wrote to Director General of Irish Prison Service to raise concerns about the repurposing of the Progression Unit in Mountjoy.

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.

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)

Caron McCaffrey Director General (Irish Prison Service)