Sir, – I’m writing to welcome the recent column by Breda O’Brien “What is the justice system for if we don’t believe in rehabilitation?” (October 12th).

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) hears from people on a regular basis who experience the stigma of having a conviction long after they have served their sentence.

Research we published in 2024 on employers’ attitudes to hiring people with convictions was entitled “The Secondary Punishment” because very often, on leaving prison, people experience a multitude of barriers when trying to move on with their lives.

This ranges from being refused home or car insurance, not being able to find stable employment or accommodation to holding back from volunteering with your child’s sports team because of the reaction you might face when you pre-empt the Garda vetting and disclose your past.

The recent media discussion around employing people with convictions provides an opportunity to have a meaningful and mature conversation on the supports people need as they navigate their rehabilitation and reintegration journey.

Behind the headlines are real people who are trying to turn their lives around. While the news cycle moves on, they and their families are often left to pick up the pieces.

There is broad agreement that employment plays a significant role in reintegration. In fact, current government policy sets out clear commitments in the Building Pathways Together Strategy to increase recruitment opportunities and long-term secure employment retention for individuals with criminal convictions.

However, to successfully implement the strategic commitments will require a whole-of-government approach.

Missing from the current discussion is the fact that legislation was proposed in 2018 to expand the spent convictions regime and help more people to overcome some of the barriers in their way.

Senator Lynn Ruane’s Private Members Bill, the Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018 passed all stages in the Seanad in 2021 and received cross-party support.

We would hope to see this progressed in the Dáil sooner rather than later, and while it will not resolve or remove all of the barriers, it would be a positive step forward.

The focus in Ms O’Brien’s article on rehabilitation as well as the need for alternativ