Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details Highlight recommendations of Prison Overcrowding Response Group and inform work of subsequent Future Prison Capacity Working Group

Intended results Implementation of the Prison Overcrowding Response Group recommendations and to inform the work of the Future of Prison Capacity Working Group to address the prison overcrowding crisis and implement existing progressive policy particularly around reducing the number of people imprisoned for short periods and refocus resources on community-based alternatives and preventative measures.

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?) 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 (1)

Wrote to Minister of Justice on 16 October 2024 asking her to implement Prison Overcrowding Response Group's key recommendations, particularly legislative measures including changes to eligibility for Temporary Release and parole, incorporating the principle of prison as a sanction of last resort in law and progressing the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014. Also engagement with the judiciary in an appropriate manner which respects their independence in relation to short sentences.

Phone call (2-5)

Asked Senator Lynn Ruane to highlight the Prison Overcrowding Response Group report in the Seanad.

Meeting (1)

Executive Director presented to Working Group on Future Prison Capacity on 5 November 2024 calling for reduction in prison capacity through alternative measures, ensuring policy decisions are evidence-informed and based on robust data, ensuring that capacity planning is human rights based and the need to take a long-term approach to future proofing the prison system by reducing imprisonment rates and redirecting resources to social services, health treatment and community based sanctions.

Submission (1)

Brief follow-up submission made to Working Group on Future Prison Capacity with key IPRT asks as outlined during presentation.

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)

Deirdre McDonnell Assistant Secretary (Department of Education)

Don Culliton Director of Services or Equivalent (Irish Prison Service)