Independence of prison inspections must be supported in legislation and resourcing – IPRT

15th September 2020

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has welcomed the launch of ‘Inspection Framework for Prisons in Ireland’ by the Minister for Justice Ms Helen McEntee TD today (15.09.2020). The Framework, which is informed by international human rights obligations and standards, national legislation and national policy, sets out how the Office of the Inspector of Prisons will conduct inspections of prisons in Ireland.

There have been no published inspection reports on a closed prison in Ireland since 2014, and this undermines public scrutiny and the State’s accountability for how it treats people behind prison walls. There is a need for increased resourcing of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons, and for laws that allow the Inspector of Prisons to publish reports directly and not through the Minister for Justice.

Welcoming the launch of the Framework, IPRT Executive Director Fíona Ní Chinnéide said:

“Independent inspections play a critical role in preventing torture and ill-treatment in prisons, and encouraging good practice. This rights-led Framework will play an important role in improving accountability in Ireland’s prison system and safeguarding the rights of thousands of men and women each year.

“It is essential that a programme of prison inspections is now commenced. There have been no published inspection reports for any closed prison in Ireland since 2014, and half of Ireland’s prisons have not been subject to a published inspection in twelve years or more. This is unacceptable by any measure.

“There are two actions that should be taken now. Government must demonstrate that it is serious about preventing torture and ill-treatment in Ireland through meeting its commitment to ratify the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture by end 2021, and the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill needs to be progressed and the independence of the Inspectorate of Prisons strengthened in law and resources.

“While the Irish Prison Service is to be commended for keeping the people in its custody largely free from COVID-19, and for introducing measures to mitigate against harsh restrictions, we simply cannot assess whether minimum human rights standards have been met in the absence of independent inspection reports.”

It is important now that the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is fully resourced both short- and long-term so that the Office can deliver on a programme of robust prison inspections under the new Framework, while also delivering on other functions within the Office’s remit, including the prompt publication of deaths in custody reports and undertaking other relevant thematic reviews, where appropriate.

For further comment or to arrange interview, contact: 087-1812990

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NOTES TO EDITOR

• The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is Ireland's leading non-governmental organisation campaigning for the rights of everyone in prison and the progressive reform of Irish penal policy, with prison as a last resort. See www.iprt.ie   
• IPRT was responding to ‘Inspection Framework for Prisons in Ireland’, launched today by the Minister for Justice: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Inspection_Framework_for_Prisons_in_Ireland
• IPRT monitors Ireland’s progress across a number of benchmarks for the prison system annually in Progress in the Penal System (PIPS). Read IPRT’s 2019 analysis on Inspections and Monitoring in prisons in Ireland here: https://pips.iprt.ie/progress-in-the-penal-system-pips/part-2-measuring-progress-against-the-standards/d-complaints-accountability-and-inspections-mechanisms/24-inspections-and-monitoring/