Press release
Statutory Parole Board publishes first Annual Report
From Parole Board
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The statutory Parole Board has today published Parole Board Annual Report 2021-2022 its first Annual Report which has also been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Annual Report covers the period from the Parole Board’s establishment on a statutory and independent footing in July 2021 up to the end of December 2022, a period of significant change and development for parole in Ireland since the Parole Act 2019 was enacted in 2021.
Parole Board CEO, Ciairín de Buis, explained that during the first year and a half of its operation, the Board’s primary focus was on developing new processes – especially those relating to applications for parole, victim engagement as well as corporate governance matters.
Speaking about the publication, Chief Executive of the Parole Board, Ciairín de Buis said:
"I am pleased and privileged to present this Annual Report on the work of the Parole Board, the first since our statutory establishment, during 2021-2022. I would like to thank the Chairperson of the Parole Board, Mr Justice Michael White, the members of the Board, and my colleagues for their hard work and commitment. The work they do is difficult, complex and challenging. The commitment and compassion they show in their work is remarkable."
Since July 2021 to 31 December 2022, the Parole Board:
- held four board meetings in 2021 and 13 in 2022
- hosted 10 prison information sessions throughout the country
- engaged with 291 victims in the context of 105 parole applications
- reviewed 22 parole applications in 2022
- assigned legal aid to 38 parole applicants
- released two people from prison
From mid-2022 to 31 December 2022, the Board:
- received 67 victim submissions related to 43 cases
- met with victims in 32 cases in 2022
- assigned legal aid to 28 victims
In addition to this work, the Parole Board has placed a significant emphasis on victim engagement and to this end, launched an information campaign on local and national media called “My Voice Counts”. The Parole Board has also made continuous efforts to communicate with parole applicants by providing a number of information sessions to assist them through the parole process.
The Parole Board is an independent body established in July 2021 under the Parole Act 2019.
Under section 10 of the Parole Act 2019, the Board shall consist of no fewer than 12 and no more than 15 in number and Board members are appointed by the Minister. Board membership includes nominees of the Chief Justice, General Council of the Bar of Ireland, Law Society of Ireland, College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, Psychological Society of Ireland, Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Director of the Probation Service.
The Board reviews parole applications from applicants serving a life sentence and makes a decision to grant or refuse parole.
In accordance with the Parole Act 2019, victims have the right to make a submission to the Parole Board which is considered in the parole process.
Both parole applicants and victims have a right to legal representation through a Legal Aid Scheme.
For further information, contact Declan Grant, Communications Officer:
- email: press@paroleboard.gov.ie
- phone: 01 4748767/01 4748770
- mobile: 087 218 3205
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