Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

General Scheme of the Irish Prison Service Bill and of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill: Discussion

Ms Saoirse Brady:

We would agree, but it should be meaningful consultation, not just a tick-box exercise, so we need to find a way to consult meaningfully with prisoners. We consult with prisoners but we find that people who are serving long-term sentences have very different issues from those who are serving short-term sentences, so it needs to be fully reflective of the prison population as well.