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 Virtual meeting with Deputy Jim O'Callaghan to discuss penal reform priorities.

Intended results Inform Deputy Jim O'Callaghan about IPRT penal reform priorities.

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.

Email (6-10)

Exchange of emails to arrange meeting to discuss penal reform priorities, send agenda of items to be discussed in advance of virtual meeting, and follow up email with link to report from Inspector of Mental Health Services that was mentioned during the meeting.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Meeting held with Deputy Jim O'Callaghan to discuss key penal reform priorities and specific IPRT priorities on upcoming legislation. Specifically discussed: implementation of Parole Act 2019 and concerns re delays in appointing CEO of new Parole Board; IPRT views on sentencing reform and work of Sentencing Guidelines & Information Commission; ratification of OPCAT and failure to do this by end of 2021 (as promised); reform of the prisoner complaints mechanism and delays in implementing promised reforms; effect of COVID-19 in prisons; IPRT concerns re the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021; and upcoming opportunities to improve / strengthen the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018.

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.

Jim O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)