Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 17 May, 2017

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2017 to 30 Apr, 2017

Specific Details Advocating for measures to ensure robust accountability and oversight of Irish prisons

Intended results Commitment to ratify OPCAT (Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture) Ensure adequate resourcing and powers of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Fíona Ni Chinnéide

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)

Letter to Assistant Secretary of the Department of Justice & Equality requesting information updates on progress towards establishment of an independent prisoner complaints mechanism and reform of the Prison Visiting Committees, and advocating for the strengthening of the powers and adequate resourcing of the Office of Inspector of Prisons, and early ratification of the OPCAT.

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.

James Martin Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)