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.
Newstalk, Séan Moncrieff Show: Mental Health Issues in Irish Prisons
25th July 2017
Ahead of Ireland's Ireland’s second examination under the UN Convention against Torture, IPRT Acting Executive Director Fíona Ní Chinneide spoke to Séan Moncrieff on the topic of mental health issues in Irish prisons.
The Irish Examiner: UN body told of failings in the oversight of Irish prisons
21st July 2017
An article by Cormac O’Keeffe in The Irish Examiner on how the United Nations Committee against Torture (UNCAT) has been told of failings in oversight, in the investigation of complaints, of ill treatment and of concerns about prison healthcare in Irish prisons.
The Irish Times: '421 people committed to prison in 2016 on immigration-related issues'
20th July 2017
Article by Kitty Holland on holding immigration detainees alongside sentenced prisoners.
Irish Legal News: Penal reform group welcomes recommendations on drug decriminalisation and spent convictions
18th July 2017
IPRT has welcomed the National Drugs Strategy’s recommendation that the Government consider decriminalisation of minor drug possession and review spent convictions legislation.
The Irish Times: Judge calls for law on parents of young offenders to be abolished
10th July 2017
Article on how encouraging the engagement of parents is generally more effective than criminalisation, in terms of parental supervision orders.
thejournal.ie: Prisoners have a very basic human need for contact
9th July 2017
A recent amendment to prison rules looks at the “meaningful human contact” prisoners get when out of their cells.
Round-up: IPS Annual Report 2016
17th May 2017
Read IPRT's comments in the media on the release of the Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2016, and the reduction in prison committals.
Irish Independent: Inside a Women's Prison
14th May 2017
Article on imprisonment of women in Ireland by Cathal McMahon.
Round-Up: Closure of St. Patrick’s Institution & Ministerial Order ending the sentencing of children to adult prison in Ireland
10th April 2017
Read IPRT’s statements and comments on the closure of St. Patrick’s Institution & the Ministerial Order ending the sentencing of children to adult prison in Ireland.
The Irish Times: Grim chapter in criminal justice ends as St Patrick’s closes
7th April 2017
On Friday 7th April 2017, Minister for Justice and Equality, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald TD closed St. Patrick’s Institution.
