Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details Letter from Action for Children and Families Network to Director General of Irish Prison Service

Intended results To follow up on actions arising from meeting in October 2021 with senior members of the Irish Prison Service To flag key issues arising for children and families of prisoners as reported by the Network members

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sarahjane McCreery, Senior Policy and Research Officer, and Dr Fiona Donson, Co-Chair of the Action for Children & Families of Prisoners Network

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 (1)

The co-chairs of the Action for Children and Families Network, which includes IPRT's Senior Policy and Research Officer, sent a letter to the Director General of the Irish Prison Service on 26th August 2022 to follow up on actions that were discussed with the IPS last October 2021 and to flag key issues arising for Network members in regards: identification requirements for family visits; delays in letters being received by people in prison; issues around the booking of visits via the phone; and issues around family contact for prisoners detained in different prisons.

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.

Caron McCaffrey Director General (Irish Prison Service)