Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

Lobbying Organisation Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

Date published 21 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Undertook an extensive campaign of engage to seek to influence proposed guidelines on the use of seclusion and restraint in education settings.

Intended results Our aim was to ensure the guidelines were rights-compliant, child-centered and as robust as possible.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Adam Harris

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Wrote to Minister Madigan on foot of media coverage around an alleged series of instances of inappropriate restraint, including of Autistic students in school, and sought an urgent meeting

Phone call (6-10)

Engaged with John Kearney on our ongoing concerns on the issue

Informal communication (11-20)

Kept in touch with John Kearney in relation to our concerns around the issue

Event / Reception (1)

Spoke on the issue at a launch of an AsIAm publication in IHREC in which John Kearney was in attendance and a number of DPOs were invited

Informal communication (6-10)

Engaged with Phllip O'Callaghan to arrange a call to discuss the issue

Phone call (1)

Spoke to Phillip O'Callaghan to outline our concerns and request further engagement from the Department of Education

Informal communication (6-10)

Liaised with Emer Currie on the issue and accepted an invitation to address a number of Fine Gael public representatives on the issue

Virtual Meeting (1)

Attended, online, a meeting of a number of FG pp members to outline our concerns and views about the proposed guidelines

Submission (1)

Provided a briefing document with Inclusion Ireland to FG PP members prior to a meeting they held on the issue with Minister Madigan

Meeting (2-5)

Discussed the issue with Senator Carrigy at a number of meetings, primarily focused on the work of the Oireachtas All Party Group on Autism

Informal communication (6-10)

Followed up with Senator Carrigy following the meeting with Minister Madigan

Letter (1)

To discuss the upcoming publication of “Guidelines for Schools on Understanding Behaviours of Concerns and Responding to Crisis Situations” with Minister Foley

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Josepha Madigan Minister of State (Department of Education)

John Kearney Chief Executive Officer (The National Council for Special Education)

Philip O'Callaghan Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Micheál Carrigy Senator (Seanad)

Emer Currie Senator (Seanad)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)

Alan Farrell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)