Politician(s) lobbied: Ruth Coppinger (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoghan Kenny (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Conor Sheehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ann Graves (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Thank them for their contribution to the statements on Pride in the Dáil. Raise important relevant policy issues with them and ask them to continue to advocate for change in these matters.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Varying issues raised including: - Legal gender-recognition for nonbinary and intersex people- Online Social Media Regulation for young people- Education and polarisation happening in schools- Hate Crime- Trans Healthcare- Ban on Conversion Practices- Ireland's International LGBTQ+ rights record
Politician(s) lobbied: Lynn Boylan (MEP), European Parliament; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Conor Sheehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To showcase the work of Belong To by inviting public officials to celebrate Pride alongside us with a breakfast in Dublin City Council offices prior to the parade.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Belong To Pride Breakfast• Time: 9:00am – 11:15am (Drop-in whenever suits!)• Where: Wood Quay, Dublin City Council Offices• What: Food, face-painting, entertainment, and hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth getting ready to march.• Parade Timing: Moving out from 11:45am onwards. Of all those invited, the seven listed below attended on the day.
Politician(s) lobbied: Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education
Intent: The primary focus of this email requesting a meeting was to introduce our new senior leadership team at Belong To and to discuss how we can continue to collaborate with the Department to support LGBTQ+ youth. We also requested that the Minister take part in a photoshoot in November for the launch of Stand Up Awareness Week.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Proposed Agenda Items:1. Introducing Belong To’s updated senior leadership team and exploring opportunities to strengthen our ongoing, positive relationship.2. High-level overview of current educational resources, our initiatives such as Stand Up Awareness Week and the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark3. A forward-looking discussion regarding upcoming strategic priorities for youth services, pre-budget alignment, and infrastructural supports for young people nationwide.
Politician(s) lobbied: Laurence Simms (Joint Secretary), Department of Foreign Affairs
Intent: Provide perspective on the state of LGBTQI+ rights and encourage to live up to international commitments in this area domestically.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Meeting attended at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva.
Politician(s) lobbied: Ian Power (Adviser to Minister of State), Department of Health
Intent: To secure funding for Belong To's mental health support services for LGBTQ+ young people and their families.
Methods: MeetingPhone call
Details by Method
Meeting
Details: Family Support Service multi annual proposal to Dept of Health + introductionsIntended results: To secure funding for Belong To's mental health support services for LGBTQ+ young people and their families.
Phone call
Details: LGBTQ+ counselling / mental health multi annual proposal to Dept of HealthIntended results: To secure funding for Belong To's mental health support services for LGBTQ+ young people and their families.
Politician(s) lobbied: Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; John Hogan (Secretary General), Department of Finance; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Olive McGovern (Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Kevin McCarthy (Secretary General), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Rural and Community Development; Mary Hurley (Secretary General), Department of Rural and Community Development; Patrick O'Donovan (Minister), Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Colm O'Reardon (Secretary General), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Doncha O'Sullivan (Secretary General), Department of Justice; Michael Moynihan (Minister of State), Department of Education; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Education; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Minister of State), Department of Health; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Derek Tierney (Secretary General), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health; Shane Smyth (Adviser to Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Aisling Dunne (Special Adviser), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Amii McKeever (Special Advisor), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Adrian O'Higgins (Special Advisor), Department of Justice; Darragh Gallagher (Adviser to Minister), Department of Social Protection; Ian Power (Adviser to Minister of State), Department of Health; Briege MacOscar (Adviser to Minister of State), Department of Health; Sarah Bardon (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Laura Mannion (Special Adviser), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Bríd Murphy (Adviser to Minister), Department of Health; Stephen Foley (Special Adviser), Department of Health; Paul Melia (Special Advisor), Department of Education; Jenny McCormack (Special Adviser), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Jack White (Special Adviser), Department of Rural and Community Development; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad; Ged Nash (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Noonan (Senator), Seanad; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Conway (Senator), Seanad; Máire Devine (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Share the Pre-Budget Submission “Funding Inclusive Futures”, set out LGBTQI+ priorities for Budget 2027, outline the submission's key asks, invite to attend launch briefing.
Methods: EmailEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Email
Email correspondence with Senator Laura Harmon to secure the use of the Oireachtas AV Room for the launch of the Pre-Budget Submission, and ask the Senator to speak at the event.
Email
Emails to Ministers, Ministers of State, and Senior Department Officials to share Pre-Budget Submission, invite to the launch, highlight budget priorities/asks specifically related to Ministers’/Departments’ remits, and request meetings
Email
Emails to special advisors/policy advisors for relevant Ministers, to share Pre-Budget Submission, invite to the launch, highlight budget priorities/asks specifically related to Ministers’/Departments’ remits, and request meetings as relevant.
Event / Reception
Launch of and briefing on the Pre-Budget Submission in the Oireachtas AV Room, Leinster House
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Catherine Ardagh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ian Power (Adviser to Minister of State), Department of Health; Craig Dwyer (Special Adviser), Department of Rural and Community Development; Conor Glynn (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: • Shoring up of allyship and political support for LGBTQI+ inclusion • Commitment to the development of a National Action Plan on Hate• Commitment to a review/ needs analysis of funding for LGBTQI+ community organisations• Commitment, across Departments and from the Taoiseach, to implementation of the National LGBTIQ+ II Inclusion strategy
Methods: MeetingEmail
Details by Method
Meeting
- Recognition of progress and political allyship - Recognition of Government’s support and investment in trans healthcare - Discussion of rising hate, polarisation and far-right influence- Creating a shared blueprint to counter hate -Need for investment in communities - Need for unity to continue progress
Email
Each DPO listed below received one personalised follow-up email thanking them for their involvement in the meeting and re-iterating the key points.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Support secured for NYCI's pre-budget submission priorities.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Belong To represented youth workers at NYCI's lobbying day and discussed funding for youth work with public representatives in attendance.
Politician(s) lobbied: Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Support for Belong To's work on LGBTQ+ inclusion in youth services.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Informal conversations were held about the work of Belong To. 21/01/2026.
Politician(s) lobbied: Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad
Intent: Priority issues are understood by public representatives with a view to engaging in future advocacy on these topics.
Methods: Informal communication
Details by Method
Informal communication
Belong To CEO Kieran O'Donovan spoke with Senator Harmon at an LGBTQ+ sector event, and discussed trans healthcare issues and the delay in updating incitement to hatred legislation. Senator Harmon was invited to the Belong To Pride Breakfast. 8/5/2026.
