Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Covid-19 vaccine roll out in prisons

Intended results Clarification on prison vaccination roll out Achieve equivalence in healthcare for prisoners with other congregational settings Prioritisation of prison staff for vaccination in line with other frontline services working in similar settings

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Executive Director

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 (2-5)

Letter (2-5)

Letter outlining rationale for prioritisation of prison vaccination programme linked with the particular risks of transmission associated with closed residential settings, the specific health vulnerabilities of prison populations, and the impact of pandemic-related restrictions and staff action on daily regimes in prison. The WHO statement that “the same principles highlighted in the Roadmap for prioritizing population groups for vaccines against COVID-19 should be equally applied in detention settings” and the heightened duty of care to protect the lives of individuals deprived of their liberty by the State (UN HR Committee) were highlighted.

Submission (1)

IPRT 'Irish Prisons and Covid-19: One Year On' briefing enclosed.

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.

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)

Caron McCaffrey Director General (Irish Prison Service)