In December 2019, the Minister for Justice and Equality published the eight annual report of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons.¹ Under section 32 of the Prisons Act 2007, the Inspector of Prisons is required to submit a report to the Department of Justice and Equality outlining how the inspector’s functions were carried out during the preceding 12 months. This was the first annual report prepared by Ms Patricia Gilheaney who was appointed inspector in May 2018.