Politician(s) lobbied: Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To push the Minister for Justice to intervene in the case of Palestinian students denied visas, having secured places in institutions across Ireland
Methods: Phone callEmailLetterMeeting
Details by Method
Phone call
Discussed the matter with Barry Heneghan TD and asked him to seek further information on the refusals
Email
Emailed the Minister for Justice highlighting the issue and our perspective on it, and seeking a meeting to discuss the matter further.
Email
Emailed two members of the Labour parliamentary party to encourage them to raise the matter with the Minister
Letter
Published an open letter calling on the Ministers for Justice, Higher Education, and Foreign Affairs to intervene on behalf of the impacted students. The letter was co-signed by student unions and trade unions operating in the Higher Education sector
Meeting
Raised the matter in a meeting with the Minister for Higher Education, and asked him to discuss the matter with his party colleague, Minister O'Callaghan .
Politician(s) lobbied: Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Eoghan Kenny (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To raise the issues of PME Students to the Oireachtas Committee of FHERIS as well as in the Dáil. PME students undertake unpaid placement, their fees are increasing and there is a growing narrative of teachers burning out and not wishing to stay in their jobs long term. My intended results were to focus on Higher Education Institutions placement being paid and SUSI to better support PME students
Methods: Email
Politician(s) lobbied: Shane Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shane Curley (Senator), Seanad; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maeve O'Connell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aengus Ó Snodaigh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Rural and Community Development; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Bhí mé ag bailiú tacaíochta do bhille atá á scríobh agam maidir le dualgais bhreise a chur ar institiúidí ardoideachais chun modúil agus cúrsaí a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge
Methods: Lobby dayEmailMeeting
Details by Method
Lobby day
Conradh na Gaeilge Lobby Day on July 1st
Politician(s) lobbied: Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Maeve O'Connell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To reverse Government policy in re. student accommodation, with an eye to promoting public investment into State-owned student specific accommodation
Methods: EmailMeetingLetter
Details by Method
Email
Emailed Higher Education spokesperson from a number of parties, and asked them to submit questions with regard to the content, drafting, and publication of the Student Accommodation Strategy
Meeting
Met with Fine Gael Higher Education spokesperson and highlighted the need for state investment into purpose built student accommodation
Meeting
Met with Minister James Lawless on two occasions, and highlighted the need for state investment into purpose built student accommodation
Letter
Published an open letter calling for the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-35 to be scrapped, and redrafted to include a greater focus on State investment into student-specific accommodation
Politician(s) lobbied: Feljin Jose (Councillor), Dublin City Council
Intent: To raise awareness of student transport issues and set up further meetings
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Contacted Councilor Jose to share results of a Student Commuter Survey, and to seek a meeting to discuss same, and other student transport issues.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To bring attention to student transport issues and set up further meetings
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Contacted Deputy Whitmore to share results of a Student Commuter Survey, and to seek a meeting to discuss same, and other student transport issues.
Politician(s) lobbied: Ciarán Ahern (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Feljin Jose (Councillor), Dublin City Council
Intent: To discuss issues around student transport
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Contacted Deputies to share results of a Student Commuter Survey, and to seek a meeting to discuss same, and other student transport issues.
Politician(s) lobbied: Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Clarity in re. the legality of additional ‘service charges’ in student accommodation, and the interaction between such charges and RPZ legislation.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Contacted Deputy McGettigan on the 5th of May to seek clarity in re. the legality of additional ‘service charges’ in student accommodation, and the interaction between such charges and RPZ legislation.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Clarification re: Lack of targeted student supports in Student Accommodation Strategy
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Contacted Deputy Cummins on the 10th of April to request that she submit a parliamentary question in re. the absence of new targeted student supports in the Student Accommodation Strategy.
Politician(s) lobbied: Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Transparency around the launch of the Student Accommodation Strategy
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Contacted Deputy Bacic on the 10th of April to request that she submit a parliamentary question in re. the lack of transparency surrounding the launch of the Student Accommodation Strategy.
