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.
16th February 2015
There were almost 9,000 committals to prison in 2014 for failure to pay court-ordered fine.
6th February 2015
Speaking to RTÉ's 'Six One' news programme, IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone highlights the crucial need for the government to divert resources to the provision of enhanced drug-treatment and prevention programmes in prisons.
19th December 2014
Prison is an environment and regime which is wholly inappropriate for the detention of children. Young people have the highest rates of reoffending, but they also have the greatest capacity for change – scientific evidence proves this.
12th December 2014
IPRT launched a new report on monitoring mechanisms in places where children are detained on 11th December 2014. This formed part of an EC-funded project.
5th November 2014
The Board of the Irish Penal Reform Trust writes to express our serious and collective concern in respect to s.55 Charities Act 2009. On October 15, 2014, the board lost an esteemed colleague, forced to resign due to the commencement of this section.
10th October 2014
Media coverage of issues and concerns raised by Inspector of Prisons in his Annual Report for 2013-2014, published yesterday by the Minister for Justice & Equality.
15th July 2014
This week, Fourth Periodic Examination of Ireland by the UN Human Rights Committee of the ICCPR discussed Ireland’s human rights record in relation to prisoners.
19th May 2014
IPRT launched a new report Travellers in the Irish Prison System: A qualitative Study on 19th May 2014.
1st May 2014
IPRT statements & other media reactions to the publishing of the report, 7 years and 9 months after his death in Mountjoy Prison.
5th April 2014
Writing in the 'Irish Examiner', IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone underlines the importance of the protection of communication between lawyer and client from disclosure.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.