Politician(s) lobbied: Ciaran Lawler (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; John McKeon (Secretary General), Department of Social Protection; Niall Egan (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Anne Marie Brooks (Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; John Hogan (Secretary General), Department of Finance; Teresa Leonard (Deputy Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Rónán Hession (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Gráinne Weld (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: To disseminate the findings of the MESL annual update report and the associated evidence-based policy recommendations in the Pre-Budget Submission
Methods: Event / ReceptionEmail
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Attended the National Economic Dialogue, discussing MESL findings on needs for children, working-age and older adults.
Email
Email sent on 9th June to inform of upcoming publication of MESL 2026 report and Budget 2027 recommendations, and to invite to MESL seminar
Event / Reception
MESL seminar held on 18th JuneIncluded presentation from MESL Research Team on the cost of a MESL in 2026, giving an overview of the: - change in cost of the minimum essentials required to live with dignity - cumulative impact of inflation since 2020 on minimum living costs and income adequacy - assessment of adequacy of social welfare supports - examination of the impact of services and in-work supports - outlining key policy recommendations for Budget 2027.
Event / Reception
Participated in the Dept. of Social Protection's Pre-Budget Forum, 1st July, attending the Income Adequacy workshop to discuss the evidence based policy recommendations from the MESL for Budget 2027.
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection; James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mary Lou McDonald (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peadar Tóibín (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To ensure that all households have the income to ensure they can meet their minimum essential needs.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
We sent a letter which included our submission and asked to meet with them soecifically to discuss our budgetary proposals for their area of responsibility.
Politician(s) lobbied: William Aird (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Danny Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To ensure that all households have the minimum essential income to meet their needs
Methods: Lobby day
Details by Method
Lobby day
Launch of our pre budget submission in Buswells Hotel on June 30th. All Oireachtas members were invited.
Politician(s) lobbied: Cliodhna O’Neill (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Education; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Education
Intent: For the department of education take into account and act on where responsibility of eradicating the education gap for the pupils from lower socio-economic background
Methods: MeetingVirtual Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
DEIS strategy Advisory Group meeting
Virtual Meeting
DEIS strategy Advisory Group meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Intent: Meeting with National Energy Affordability Taskforce to ensure energy poverty is addressed in the Energy Affordability Task Force Report.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Joint Letter from Community & Voluntary
Politician(s) lobbied: Ray Cunningham (Councillor), Dublin City Council; Daithí Doolan (Councillor), Dublin City Council
Intent: Improved coordination on local level around food poverty in Ballyfermot/South West Dublin.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Meeting of Food Poverty Alliance (South West Dublin).
Politician(s) lobbied: David Kelly (Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Síona Cahill (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Reduction in homelessness and increase in HAP rates
Methods: Meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Colm Kincaid (Director), Central Bank of Ireland
Intent: Enhanced protections for vulnerable consumers in financial matters, including lending.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Roundtable on consumer protection with members of the community and voluntary sector.
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: More car park spaces for disabled drivers
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Email re implementation of age friendly strategy to increased disabled parking spaces.
Politician(s) lobbied: Gráinne Weld (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Niall Egan (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Ciaran Lawler (Assistant Secretary), Department of Social Protection; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection; John McKeon (Secretary General), Department of Social Protection; Teresa Leonard (Deputy Secretary), Department of Social Protection
Intent: To inform that the Minimum Essential Standard of Living 2026 report and associated pre-budget submission policy recommendations will be published in June, with details to follow
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
'Save the date' email sent on 27th April 2026
