IPRT in the News
As part of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) Strategic Plan 2023-2026, one of our main goals is to campaign for a progressive criminal justice system that upholds human rights. Engagement with the media plays a large part in that as we discuss our evidence-based research, advocate for people in prison, and work to change attitudes and challenge misconceptions about people in the criminal justice system.
Below you will see a list of most of IPRT's media features including recordings of radio discussions, links to TV appearances, and access to written articles and opinion pieces. You can also listen back to long-form recorded discussions with podcast hosts on our Podcast webpage.
Irish Examiner: Record prison overcrowding 'set to worsen'
17th January 2024
IPRT response to an analysis of data conducted by the Irish Examiner, showing the mounting pressures on the prison system.
Irish Times podcast: Does Ireland need more prison cells or fewer prisoners?
9th January 2024
IPRT speaks to Sorcha Pollak of the Irish Times In The News podcast alongside Irish Times Crime and Security Editor Conor Lally about reducing the number of people sent to prison.
Red FM: Irish Penal Reform Trust says prison conditions are going backwards
4th January 2024
IPRT responds to the latest overcrowding figures at Cork prison.
Irish Examiner: Prison officer shortages impacts inmate education programmes
4th December 2023
IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, responds to the number of days educational programmes were prevented from happening due to staff shortages.
Law Society Gazette: IPRT welcomes IPS focus on overcrowding
30th November 2023
Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) welcomed many elements of two strategy documents published by the Irish Prison Service but warned, however, that broader efforts across the criminal-justice system must focus on reducing the number of people sent to prison in the first place.
Journal.ie: ‘A long way from normal’: Families say visits to prison still restricted post-pandemic
29th November 2023
The Journal's Noteworthy initiative reports on their investigation of prison visits.
RTÉ Radio One: News At One: Challenge of managing prison population has increased
29th November 2023
IPRT reacts to the Irish Prison Service Strategy 2023-2026 document released that day.
PILA: Ten Years after the Report on Penal Reform by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice – where are we now? - IPRT
29th November 2023
Dr Helen Kehoe, IPRT Legal and Public Affairs Manager, writes a guest piece for the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA), reflecting on where we are ten years after the Report on Penal Reform by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice following the All-Party Oireachtas Group for Penal Reform event.
RTÉ: Why are guilty pleas in murder cases uncommon?
19th November 2023
IPRT joins the conversation on mandatory life sentencing.
Journal.ie: Prison Service releasing prisoners on temporary release in attempt to tackle overcrowding
7th November 2023
IPRT responds to the figures for temporary release and offers solutions on how to address prison overcrowding.
