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.
29th November 2023
Dr Helen Kehoe, IPRT Legal and Public Affairs Manager, writes a guest piece for the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA), reflecting on where we are ten years after the Report on Penal Reform by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice following the All-Party Oireachtas Group for Penal Reform event.
19th November 2023
IPRT joins the conversation on mandatory life sentencing.
7th November 2023
IPRT responds to the figures for temporary release and offers solutions on how to address prison overcrowding.
3rd November 2023
IPRT comments on the difficulties for children of imprisoned parents in maintaining a relationship with their parents as she attended the kids camp event at Shelton Abbey open prison.
2nd November 2023
In an Irish Times report, IPRT responds to the publication of the Central Statistics Office research ‘Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions’ covering the period of 2025-2021. IPRT welcomes the research focus on employment, notes the impact convictions may have on gaining employment, and puts forward practical steps to address this.
24th October 2023
In a Letter to the Editor responding to the news regarding the new Limerick Prison, IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, welcomes developments at Limerick Women's Prison but says diversion ought to be the priority
20th October 2023
In response to the publication of the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service annual reports for 2022, IPRT called for the increased use of community-based alternatives to prison, and a reversal of plans to increase prison spaces.
19th October 2023
In an Irish Legal News article, it reports on an event on Wednesday 18 October 2023 where politicians marked the ten-year anniversary of the publication of the Report on Penal Reform of 2013 by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality at an event in the AV room in Leinster House.
5th October 2023
The Law Society Gazette write about IPRT's calls for the Government to invest in alternatives to prison in Budget 2024.
4th October 2023
IPRT Executive Director Saoirse Brady speaks on Cork's 96FM about the news of overcrowding in Cork prison and how it can be reduced.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.