Irish Episcopal Conference

Lobbying Organisation Irish Episcopal Conference

Date published 20 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Foreign Affairs

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details 1) Raising awareness of the challenges faced by Irish people in prison overseas and seeking to improve the supports and information available to them in prison and on return. 2) The achievement of unilateral or reciprocal (as appropriate) driver licence exchange with the United States as part of the Irish-US Driver’s Licence Exchange Campaign. This would improve the employment prospects of ICPO clients returning from the United States who hold an US driver licence.

Intended results 1) To ensure that the challenges faced by Irish people in prison and particularly those who have finished their sentences in Ireland are understood by relevant government officials. To ensure that better support is provided to Irish people in prison overseas and on their return either by the State, or that organisations such as ICPO continue to be funded to carry out this work. 2) Agreements are put in place and legislation introduced where necessary to ensure that US Driver licences can be exchanged in Ireland and people returning including people resettling in Ireland after prison in the US do not have to sit a driver test in Ireland those delaying or reducing the options for employment.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Leslie Alcock, ICPO Coordinator and Catherine Kenny, ICPO Casework, Information and Policy Officer - Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas

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.

Event / Reception (1)

Global Irish Forum 30 April-1 May “Listening and Learning from each other” breakout sessions- Leslie Alcock and Catherine Kenny attended separate sessions. One attended by President Connolly and several of her officials, none introduced. LA spoke about ICPO's work and challenges facing Irish people in prison and on return to Ireland and issues facing families of Irish people in prison abroad. CK session included Irish Ambassador to UK. CK spoke about ICPO and challenges facing Irish prisoners

Meeting (1)

Global Irish Forum 30 April-1 May - meeting with Minister Neale Richmond attended as part of the Irish-US Driver's Licence Exchange Campaign. Minister briefed on a recent research report in relation to licence exchange and the recommendations of the report by spokespersons for the group. The group explained the advantages of having a US Driver Exchange for people returning form the US and asked that the Government consider changing legislation and policy to facilitate this

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.

Martin Fraser Ambassador (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Neale Richmond Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)