The Psychological Society of Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health

Intent: Psychological Society of Ireland representation in the Seanad and the Dail Eireann during the final readings of the Mental Health Bill 2024 in both Houses, to ensure the PSI would be present when the Bill was signed off by the Oireachtas

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Teresa Costello (Senator), Seanad; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Manus Boyle (Senator), Seanad; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To secure national policy and service reform ensuring pregnancy and infant loss is embedded as core maternity care, with psychological support integrated, consistent pathways developed, and families treated with dignity and compassion.

Methods: Submission

Politician(s) lobbied: Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To encourage Deputy Clarke and other members of the Oireachtas to begin crafting legislative action to ban AI ‘therapy’ in Ireland, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure that psychological services are delivered only by trained human professionals.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health; Ian Power (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: Secure Minister Butler’s participation and address at the PSI Annual Conference to facilitate engagement between policymakers and psychology professionals, highlighting the Society’s work and ongoing engagement with the Department of Health.

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Gareth Scahill (Senator), Seanad; Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Lynn Ruane (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Naoise O'Cearúil (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Darren O'Rourke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Johnny Mythen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James Geoghegan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To secure urgent legislative and regulatory action to ban AI ‘therapy’, protect mental health service users, and ensure psychological services are delivered only by trained human professionals.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Teresa Costello (Senator), Seanad; Manus Boyle (Senator), Seanad; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To secure urgent legislative and regulatory action to ban AI ‘therapy’, protect mental health service users, and ensure psychological services are delivered only by trained human professionals.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health; Ian Power (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: To provide expert input to inform policy implementation, support workforce planning, and promote evidence-informed, person-centred mental health services. Invitation to Mental Health Bill 2024 debate in the Seanad.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health; Ian Power (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: To advocate for investment in mental health services, prioritisation of workforce capacity, evidence-informed service delivery, and reforms aligned with best practice and recovery-oriented, rights-based care.

Methods: Meeting

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

Intent: To ensure AON reforms protect statutory rights, remain evidence-informed, and support timely access to services; to advocate for workforce planning, integration of children’s services, and consultation with psychologists and stakeholders; and to promote a person-centred, clinically sound, and rights-based approach in legislative and service reforms.

Methods: Meeting

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

Intent: To ensure that reforms to the Assessment of Need (AON) process remain evidence-informed, person-centred, and clinically sound; to advocate for adequate workforce resourcing, multidisciplinary input, and clear guidance for assessment officers; and to support legislation that protects rights, promotes timely access to services, and maintains high-quality disability assessment and intervention.

Methods: Submission