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

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

Date published 05 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Remote Witness Hearing Pilot Project

Intended results Raise awareness of the remote witness hearing pilot project which was carried out by Cuan Saor in Tipperary in conjunction with the local courts service.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Mary McDermott, CEO Safe Ireland

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)

Email from Deputy Durkan, 5th June to Mary McDermott with response received from the Minister for Justice in relation to contact Deputy Durkan made in relation to Safe Ireland's remote witness hearing project report. Miss McDermott responded to Deputy Durkan, 5th June, thanked him for his representations, saying this work must be carefully progressed to ensure the safety of victims, the sustainability of local domestic violence services and collaborations with the Judiciary and Courts Services.

Email (2-5)

Email to the Minister for Justice from Mary McDermott on 24th May which provided additional contextual information in relation to Safe Ireland's remote witness hearing evaluation report. Acknowledgment received 24th May from the Minister's office.

Email (1)

Email from Mary McDermott to Deputy Durkan 5th June thanking him for his representations and stating the need for steady and well-planned focus.

Email (2-5)

Email from Mary McDermott to Minister McEntee 2nd May noted that in relation to the number of PQs which arose from the Remote Witness Hearing (RWH) Pilot Project report, there is a need for caution and pacing - that the project cannot be rolled out in other courts without substantial additional work by all concerned at local levels. Response from Minister McEntee's office 24th June thanked Mary for providing additional contextual information.

Email (1)

Mary McDermott emailed the Minister's office on 24th June and asked for Safe Ireland's good wishes to be passed onto the Minister.

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.

Bernard Durkan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)