Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Engagement with Irish Prison Service on the issue of children/families impacted by imprisonment and the importance of family contact for prisoners

Intended results To make key officials in the Irish Prison Service aware of challenges facing children/families of prisoners, and suggested solutions for addressing these issues.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity IPRT Acting Executive Director, Molly Joyce, and Children & Families Coordinator, Ashling Tobin

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.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

IPRT's Acting Executive Director, Molly Joyce, and Children & Families Coordinator, Ashling Tobin, met with IPS Director of Care & Rehabilitation (and colleagues) on 13 January and 18 April 2023 to communicate concerns from members of the Action for Children & Families Network and explore ways in which the IPS might address concerns. Issues discussed included: family visiting hours for prisons; facilities for children with additional needs; and access to phone/video calls.

Letter (2-5)

Following both of the above meetings, IPRT's Children & Families Coordinator, Ashling Tobin, wrote to senior staff within IPS to specifically follow up on Network members' concerns, including to the IPS Director of Operations (on the issue of security measures within prisons and the impact on families) and IPS Director General (on prison visiting times for families).

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.

Fergal Black Director of Services or Equivalent (Irish Prison Service)

Caron McCaffrey Director General (Irish Prison Service)

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