ARI

1 July 2026, Chartered Accountants House, Dublin: Alison Bough on behalf of Active Retirement Ireland presented ARI's priorities at the Department’s Pre-Budget Forum and raised State Pension benchmarking directly with Minister Dara Calleary TD.

27 May 2026: Active Retirement Ireland submitted its Department of Social Protection Pre-Budget Submission 2027 setting out income-adequacy and social-protection measures for older people.

18 August 2026: meeting requests to Ministers Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Kieran O’Donnell and Jennifer Murnane O’Connor seeking engagement and presentation of Active Retirement Ireland's 31,196-signature petition.

24 June 2026: At Active Retirement Ireland’s National AGM in Athlone, Alison Bough briefed Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell TD on the progress of ARI’s shingles vaccination campaign and its call for fair, State-supported access to the vaccine for older people. The issue was also raised with the Minister by an ARI member during the Q&A following his address to delegates.

8 July 2026, Leinster House: ARI attended an RSV and adult-vaccination briefing supported by Pádraig O’Sullivan TD and Alison Bough on behalf of Active Retirement Ireland advocated prevention, equitable access and a comprehensive adult-immunisation framework.

Active Retirement Ireland engaged with Ministers, TDs, Senators and relevant Government offices by email regarding the shingles vaccination campaign. Correspondence included sharing campaign and petition updates, highlighting the barriers faced by older people in accessing the vaccine, advocating for fair, State-supported access, seeking political and Government support, and requesting engagement with Ministers regarding the handover of ARI’s petition, which received 31,196 signatures.

Active Retirement Ireland used its Facebook and LinkedIn channels to promote the shingles vaccine petition, provide campaign updates and encourage members, supporters and the wider public to sign and share the petition calling for fair, State-supported access to the shingles vaccine for older people. Relevant politicians and public representatives were tagged in some campaign posts to raise awareness of the campaign and its policy ask.

CEO Fran Brennan spoke to John Lahart TD and Colm Burke TD at the official launch of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union at Dublin Castle on 1 July 2026 about Active Retirement Ireland’s shingles vaccination campaign, raising ARI’s call for fair, State-supported access to the shingles vaccine for older people.

On 13 May 2026, Alison Bough, Fran Brennan and Mai Quaid of Active Retirement Ireland met with Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell TD in Leinster House. The meeting included discussion of ARI’s shingles vaccination campaign and its call for fair, State-supported access to the vaccine for older people, alongside wider priorities relating to preventative health and ageing in place.

5 June 2026: ARI submitted its Department of Health Pre-Budget Submission 2027 setting out preventative-health, access and entitlement measures for older people.

27 April 2026: Follow-up engagement with Minister’s office to arrange meeting with ARI. Meeting confirmed at this time for 13 May 2026

27 April 2026: Follow-up engagement with Minister’s office to arrange meeting with ARI. Meeting confirmed at this time for 13 May 2026

Email on 27 March 2026 requesting meeting to discuss ARI policy priorities including preventative health, shingles vaccination and ageing in place.

In-person appearance before Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health 15 April 2026, including written submission provided to Committee, to provide evidence on vaccine policy, availability and uptake, including shingles vaccination for older adults.

In-person meeting on 18 February 2026 in Leinster House regarding older persons' access to the shingles vaccine, including provision of briefing materials and policy support.

Ongoing email engagement regarding access to the shingles vaccine, including provision of briefing materials and policy support.

Emails thanking Senators for their contributions to, and support of, the Private Members’ Motion (5 February 2026) on shingles vaccination in the Seanad.

Follow-up email thanking the Minister for her response on behalf of the Minister for Health during the Seanad Private Members’ Motion on shingles vaccination.

Follow-up engagement thanking elected representatives for parliamentary activity on shingles vaccination, including Dáil Topical Issue Debate (4 March 2026), Parliamentary Questions and Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health.

In-person appearance before Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health 15 April 2026, including written submission provided to Committee, to provide evidence on vaccine policy, availability and uptake, including shingles vaccination for older adults.

In-person meeting with Senator Conway on 18 February 2026 in Leinster House regarding older persons' access to the shingles vaccine, including provision of briefing materials and policy support.

Ongoing email engagement regarding access to the shingles vaccine, including provision of briefing materials and policy support.

Email submission to public consultation on priorities for Ireland’s EU Presidency 2026, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Submission made 24 November 2025.

Policy document presented and discussed; constructive engagement.