Inclusion Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ruairí Ó Murchú (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gillian Toole (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Séamus Healy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aisling Dempsey (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Senator), Seanad; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: We invited members of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and Oireachtas disability spokespeople to Inclusion Ireland’s AGM on 17th June, and asked them to join a panel discussion with our members on advancing independent living and community supports in line with Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Inclusion Ireland shared our Cost of Disability submission with Senator Laura Harmon of the Labour Party at her request. We hoped that sharing our proposals would influence Labour's submission to the consultation and emphasise the need for a person-centred payment.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: We contacted Deputy Quinlivan in his capacity as Cathaoirleach of the Disability Matters Committee, as well as Deputies Carrighy and Daly, to request a briefing on the findings of our report into the Farrelly Commission’s process, as well as request that the Disability Committee consider organising a series of public hearings on the issue, to hear from impacted survivors, their families, and advocacy groups.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: We sought the Social Democrats' support for our policy positions on access to services and supports.

Methods: Virtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Bernie McNally (Secretary General), Department of Education

Intent: Ensuring the participation of Inclusion Ireland's members and people with intellectual disabilities in the creation of public policy.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: Shape implementation of national disability policy and bring the views of Inclusion Ireland's members to the table.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Colm Ó Conaill (Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: Bring the views of our members in shaping actions from the Disability Capacity Review to the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Emer Higgins (Minister of State), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: We sought to inform the Minister of State of the key challenges and concerns people with intellectual disabilities and their families are facing in the present policy landscape.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education

Intent: We sought to impress on the Minister key points from our feedback to the Department’s proposed implementation plan for EPSEN reform, and how these ought to be considered in the Convention’s context directly with educators, families, and schoolchildren with intellectual disabilities.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Michael Moynihan (Minister of State), Department of Education

Intent: We attended a virtual meeting with the Minister of State for Special Education and his officials to discuss our feedback to the Department of Education and Youth's proposed plan to implement recommendations arising from its Review into the EPSEN Act 2004, with a view to emphasise implementing changes through a rights-based lens, underpinned by a statutory and resourced Inclusive Education Plan.

Methods: EmailVirtual Meeting