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.
22nd December 2011
Crime Correspondent Cormac O'Keeffe reports that the death of a prisoner on suicide watch at Cloverhill Prison underlines the need for a prisons ombudsman, according to the Irish Penal Reform Trust.
20th December 2011
Cormac O'Keeffe reports that just under 7,000 people have been imprisoned for failing to pay fines up to the end of November 2011, an increase on the same period in 2010.
18th November 2011
Executive Directer of IPRT, Liam Herrick, reports that overcrowding remains the core problem of our prison system and must be addressed first and foremost.
11th November 2011
Writing in The Irish Times, Crime Correspondent Conor Lally reports on the shelving of prison building projects at Thornton Hall in Dublin and Kilworth in Cork, and plans to release prisoners early to ease overcrowding.
7th November 2011
Aoife Barry reports on IPRT's reaction to the latest prisoner figures.
23rd October 2011
Writing in the 'Sunday Independent', Daniel McConnell reports on the forthcoming Spent Convictions Bill, which is "at an advanced stage of drafting, with only finer details left to be finalised."
18th October 2011
Cormac O'Keeffe reports that despite the significant numbers being sent to prison for non-payment of fines, legislation enacted last year to address the issue will not be operational for at least 12 months.
10th October 2011
Reporter Aoife Barry details IPRT's response to the Government's commitments on prisons-related recommendations contained in the UN Universal Periodic Review.
6th October 2011
Ireland's first hearing under the UN Universal Periodic Review took place today in Geneva. A third of countries highlighted prison issues.
27th September 2011
IPRT's Liam Herrick appeared on RTÉ's 'Prime Time' in a report on imprisonment of fine-defaulters, which asked whether the Courts are dealing with the issue in the most appropriate manner, given the straitened financial times in which we are living?
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.