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.
20th August 2021
Barry Lenihan reports on capacity issues facing the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), speaking to Prof Harry Kennedy and IPRT’s Molly Joyce.
17th August 2021
IPRT comment featured prominently in the media coverage and debate around the changes to parole following the commencement of the Parole Act and the establishment of a new statutory Parole Board.
15th July 2021
'Piecing it Together' was launched by Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, virtually on 15 July 2021.
25th June 2021
New figures published by the CSO find that almost 62% of people released from prison in 2015 re-offended within three years. In response, the IPRT is calling for the Government to introduce a statutory obligation on agencies co-operate around prisoner release.
31st May 2021
IPRT has expressed dismay that men and women in prison appear to have been left behind in Ireland’s pandemic efforts.
22nd May 2021
Following a report in the Irish Examiner about a person formerly addicted to heroin appearing before the courts charged with possession of €4 worth of cannabis, thejournal.ie spoke to advocacy groups working in the areas of drug addiction and penal reform, including IPRT.
19th March 2021
IPRT comment featured in reporting by the Irish Examiner on parliamentary questions relating to mental health and addiction services in prisons.
9th March 2021
IPRT comment featured in print and broadcast media following confirmation from the Department of Health that all prisoners would be vaccinated as part of group nine in the Vaccine Allocation Strategy.
27th January 2021
Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) 2020, the fourth annual edition of a report assessing progress in Ireland's penal system, was launched at an online event on Tuesday 26th January 2021.
26th January 2021
The Irish Independent has published an opinion article by IPRT Executive Director Fíona Ní Chinnéide discussing Ireland’s overreliance on imprisonment as a response to marginalised women.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.