Irish Penal Reform Trust

IPRT in the News

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.

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".

Irish Examiner: Prisoners 'at risk of harm' from critically low number of mental health staff

20th February 2024

The Irish Examiner writes about the publication of a report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) Thematic Inspection: An Evaluation of the Provision of Psychiatric Care in the Irish Prison System February – March 2023. IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, responds.

Irish Examiner: Debt to society can be a long-term payment plan

19th February 2024

IPRT discusses the issues with finding work with convictions and employer attitudes to people with convictions after IPRT launched a report "The Secondary Punishment".

Irish Examiner Mick Clifford Podcast: SECOND CHANCE: Damien Quinn and Saoirse Brady

15th February 2024

People who have served a prison sentence for a criminal offence are entitled to believe that once the sentence is completed they have paid their debt to society. That does not appear to be the case. New research shows that there are huge barriers to ex-prisoners finding employment and that the past simply won’t leave them alone. Damien Quinn was one such person, who had to fight hard to rebuild his life once he finished his sentence. He and Irish Penal Reform Trust Executive Director Saoirse Brady are this week’s guests on the podcast.

RTÉ Radio One Drivetime: Irish Penal Reform Trust Convictions/Employment

8th February 2024

Saoirse Brady, Executive Director of Irish Penal Reform Trust and Damien Quinn founder of Spéire Nua, spoke on RTÉ Radio One Drivetime about the new research published by IPRT that shows barriers remain for people with a history of convictions to finding work.

The Irish Times: Conviction for crime should not mean ‘a lifetime of discrimination’

8th February 2024

IPRT and Damien Quinn reflect on the barriers to people with convictions finding work and the new report on employers. attitudes to hiring people with convictions.

Irish Examiner: Nine in 10 employers would consider hiring someone with convictions – report

8th February 2024

IPRT comments on its report "The Secondary Punishment": A Scoping Study on Employer Attitudes to Hiring People with Criminal Convictions, which shines a light on employer attitudes towards hiring people with convictions.

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