SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

Email from Mary Lou McDonald's policy and outreach officer Sinead Burke giving CEO Mary McDermott an update on the Zero Tolerance community campaign and inviting her to a campaign meeting on Monday 13th April at 11am. Email was forwarded to Education and Training Officer Jenny Horsfield who responded directly.

Call with Senator Stephenson on 16th February where updates related to the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025 and wider challenges that continue to surface for DSGSBV survivors were discussed. Also provided updates recent updates from Department of Social Protection on transport issue. 27th April Senator Stephenson called to update on the DV Travel Supplement being introduced in the Oireachtas on 28th April 2026.

Email dated 6th February to Senator Stephenson to organise a call to discuss updates pertaining to the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025

Email dated 7th April from Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice invited Interim CEO Christine Lodge to present on Safe Ireland's submission 30th March. Response issued 9th April on Christine Lodge's behalf confirmed Dr. O'Shea would represent Safe Ireland. Opening statement issued by Dr. O'Shea to the Committee Clerk on 13th April.

Invitation from Fianna Fail Policy Officer Sarah Lyons on 4th March by email to CEO Mary McDermott asking her to present at Fianna Fáil roundtable discussion on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party room, Leinster House, on Wednesday 25th March. As Mary retired 6th March, response was issued 16th March on behalf of Interim CEO Christine Lodge which advised she was unable to attend due to a diary conflict.

On 21st April 2026, Dr Bláithín O’Shea, Law and Policy Manager at Safe Ireland, attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to discuss tackling gender-based violence. Dr O’Shea spoke alongside Cuan, Women’s Aid, Men’s Aid, Ms Lauren Reilly and Ms Margaret Loftus, contributing evidence grounded in frontline experience and national law and policy analysis.

Safe Ireland made a submission drafted by Dr. Blaithin O'Shea on tackling gender based violence which was sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice by email on 30th March.

Invitation from Dr. Stephanie O'Keeffe's office 12th January on her behalf which invited CEO Mary McDermott as a member of the advisory group for the National Domestic Violence Survey, to an online meeting on Monday 26th.

Letter dated 10th February from Dr. Stephanie O'Keeffe issued by email on her behalf to Mary McDermott which provided an update on the status of the national survey.

Email 6th March from Olga McConnon to Christine Lodge advised that costings for safe accommodation would be issued the following week. Email 11th March from Christine to Olga requested lease/rent details for proposed interim refuge. Response from Olga 11th March contained costings, acknowledged by Christine 11th March. Email 29th April from Christine Lodge to Olga McConnon enquired about the terms of the lease.

Email from Christine Lodge to Olga McConnon 16th February with security specifications for safe homes. Response from Olga 16th February confirming site visit facilitation. Email 16th February from Olga to Christine seeking redesigns of buildings. Email to Olga from Christine 4th March on redesign of buildings to align with Safe Ireland's Safe Spaces' recommendations for refuge.

Email from Olga McConnon dated 5th February requesting Senior Executive Officer for housing Samantha Boyle be included in a meeting scheduled for 17th February. Emails between CEO Mary McDermott and Olga McConnon on 10th February discussed safe accommodation options in Monaghan County.

Online meeting via Teams on 17th February at which Senior Executive Officer Samantha Boyle and Olga McConnon were for Monaghan County Council and Mary McDermott and Christine Lodge for Safe Ireland.

Email dated 17th December with Safe Ireland's submission in pdf format on the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025 from Dr. Blaithin O'Shea to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Response from Committee Secretariat to Dr. Blaithin O'Shea 18th December confirmed receipt of same.

Email from Mary Lou McDonald TD to Mary McDermott dated 14th November inviting her to attend a Dail debate taking place on 25th November on proposed legislation for victims of sexual offences being brought forward by Matt Carthy TD. Response issued by Dr. Lorraine Grimes 17th November with Safe Ireland's apologies as sexual violence is not its remit.

Attendance on 22nd October at debate in the Seanad, Leinster House by Dr. Blaithin O'Shea who posed for photographs with Senator Stephenson thereafter.

Email dated 13th October from Senator Stephenson to Aoife Langdon inviting Safe Ireland to Seanad debate on proposed legislation for free travel for victims of domestic violence. Response from Aoife to Senator 13th October querying whether Safe Ireland was to speak at the debate. Email 14th October from Senator Stephenson to Aoife confirming that attendance to show support only is required by Safe Ireland at the Seanad debate.

Email dated 14th October from CEO Mary McDermott to Senator Stephenson advising that Safe Ireland is more than happy to support her proposed legislation and will send a representative to the debate in the Seanad.

Email dated 14th October from Dr. Blaithin O'Shea to Senator Stephenson confirming her attendance at the Seanad debate on 22nd October. Briefing note on the proposed legislation was issued 15th October by Senator Stephenson to Aoife Langdon.

Instagram direct message received from Senator Stephenson on 13th October inviting a Representative from Safe Ireland to attend a Seanad debate the following Wednesday for a Bill she is introducing on a free travel scheme for survivors of domestic violence. Response 13th October from Aoife Langdon to Senator Stephenson asking if she can check with the Team and send more information by email.

Text dated 17th September from Councillor Maeve Yore to Mary McDermott, asking Mary to present to the Association of Irish Local Government in the new year.

Meeting with the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan in the Department of Justice at 12.30 pm on 4th December at which the Secretary General Oonagh McPhillips and Special Advisor Adrian O'Higgins were also in attendance. Representatives from Safe Ireland included CEO Mary McDermott, Operations Director Christine Lodge and Legal Justice Manager Dr. Blaithin O'Shea.