Irish Penal Reform Trust

Lobbying Organisation Irish Penal Reform Trust

Date published 21 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Phone call with Deputy Martin Kenny TD.

Intended results To inform Deputy Martin Kenny TD of some of the key issues arising in prisons from IPRT perspective.

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

Submission (1)

IPRT's Acting Executive Director spoke to Deputy Martin Kenny on 1 February 2023 as per his request for a call, to outline some of the key issues arising in prisons at the moment. Identified key issues for IPRT as including: rising prison numbers, overcrowding and the impact on rehabilitative services; difficulties with staffing levels and need for workforce planning; and importance of ensuring consistency across the estate in terms of the pre- and post-release supports provided to individuals.

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 Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)