Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Mental Health & the Penal System

Intended results Flag IPRT's concerns about the current crisis of mental health within the Irish penal system, including current waiting times for prisoner transfer to the Central Mental Hospital. Promote the need to divert people suffering with mental illness away from prison and towards therapeutic settings Increase the range of responses available within prison for those suffering with mental health difficulties To ask for a meeting to discuss these specific concerns

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Molly Joyce, Legal & Public Affairs Manager

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)

Letter (sent by email) to identify IPRT concerns about mental health and seek meetings with Minister Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and the Department of Health. Copy of IPRT's 'Progress in the Penal System' 2020 report also included.

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.

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Colm Desmond Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)