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: ‘Dramatic’ increase in number of people detained in custody before trial
7th May 2024
IPRT commented on the new report research report published by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) that examines the use of pre-trial detention and the denial of bail in Ireland.
Law Society Gazette: Call to back up high-turnout jail voters
26th April 2024
Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has written to prison governors asking them to put in place measures to support registration and facilitate voting in prisons.
Irish Times: Letter - Plan for prison expansion is a bad idea
18th April 2024
IPRT joined politicians, researchers in criminology and criminal justice, and people in the community sector in adding our name to an open letter proposing we adopt evidence-based alternatives to prison expansion in Ireland. The letter was published in the Irish Times.
RTÉ Radio 1 - Today with Claire Byrne: Tougher sentences for knife crime and minimum jail terms for serious offences: FG’s Justice proposals
16th April 2024
IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, joined Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward on RTÉ Radio 1 for the Today with Claire Byrne show to discuss sentencing, minimum jail terms, and parole.
Irish Legal News: Penal reform group concerned over ‘law and order’ rhetoric
15th April 2024
Irish Legal News reported on a letter sent by IPRT to Simon Harris urging the new Taoiseach to tackle “the root causes of offending” instead of focusing on “harsher penalties and prison expansion”.
Leinster Express: 'Slopping out' to continue in Portlaoise Prison despite prison funding allocation
6th April 2024
On 6 April 2024, the Leinster Express reported that despite allocating €49.5 million up to 2026 for work to help provide ‘dignity of care’ in prisons, the practice of slopping out looks set to continue in Portlaoise Prison. IPRT called the practice inhumane and degrading.
RTÉ Radio, Today with Claire Byrne: Number of prisoners on remand in our prisons increasing
25th March 2024
On RTÉ Radio 1, Today with Claire Byrne show, RTÉ reporter Brian O'Connell spoke to IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, about the number of prisoners on remand in our prisons increasing.
The Fifth Court podcast: 'Irish Prisons at 107% capacity', '9/10 employers would hire ex-prisoners' - Saoirse Brady, Irish Penal Reform Trust
12th March 2024
In March 2024, Saoirse Brady, Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, joined Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL on the Fifth Court podcast, Ireland's legal podcast that won Law Society...
Newstalk: Prisoners to be trained retrofit homes under new pilot project
26th February 2024
On Newstalk Breakfast, IPRT Executive Director Saoirse Brady responded to reports on the pilot project to train prisoners to retrofit homes being underway at two prisons and spoke about the secondary punishment that people with convictions can face when trying to find employment.
RTÉ: Mental health care needs not fully met in some prisons - report
20th February 2024
IPRT comments in the RTÉ story covering the report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) which has highlighted that mental health care needs are not being fully or satisfactorily met in any of the seven prisons it inspected, with conditions repeatedly being described as "degrading".
