Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform

Intended results Provide forum for discussion of key penal reform priorities among TDs / Senators. Provide Co-Chairs of All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform with opportunity to meet relevant stakeholders working in the justice field. Communicate with Co-Chairs on issues of penal reform that are of concern to IPRT.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Molly Joyce

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

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Emails for

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Meeting held on 7th September 2021 between Co-Chairs of All Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform (APOGPR), Deputy Ivana Bacik and Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and Chief Superintendent Colette Quinn and Eddie D'Arcy, to discuss their experience of youth justice and the key issues arising in reform of our youth justice system (e.g. Garda Youth Diversion Projects; Youth Justice Strategy 2021). IPRT staff also in attendance at meeting

Email (6-10)

Emails exchanged with Co-Chairs of APOGPR re planning of next meeting of the Group.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Second meeting of the APOGPR held for members of Oireachtas. Items discussed: the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitation Periods) Bill 2018 (which Senator Lynn Ruane presented on); and work of the National Forensic Mental Health Service (with a presentation from head of the NFMHS, Patrick Bergin). Approximately 7 TDs/Senators in attendance at meeting.

Email (2-5)

Email to Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on 26 November 2021, outlining IPRT concerns in regards the delays in rolling out booster vaccinations in prisons and our position that people in prison should be prioritised for vaccination.

Email (2-5)

Email to Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Deputy Ivana Bacik regarding progress of the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018, and noting that IPRT is preparing a briefing on the Bill which will be circulated in due course.

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.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Ward Senator (Seanad)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)