Drogheda Women & Children's Refuge (Company Limited by Guarantee)

Lobbying Organisation Drogheda Women & Children's Refuge

Date published 01 Dec, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Following a report on Safe Harbour Project, based in Mosney Village it was noted that current policies and procedures in IPAS centres on reporting and responding to DSGBV have not been reviewed since 2014. We have lobbied local TDs to raise the issue in the Dail and call for a review of the current policies and procedures relating to domestic, sexual and gender based violence in place to support staff, management, residents, and agencies in IPAS centres

Intended results Updated polices and guidelines for IPAS Centres that offer more support to centres on how to recognize and respond appropriately to a situation of domestic abuse within their centre an dkeep the victims safe

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Susan Keogh

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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Erin McGrehan (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Ged Nash (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Joanna Byrne (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Standards in Public Office)

Alison Comyn (Currently employed as a DPO) Senator (Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs)

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 (1)

Circulation of the Evaluation of the Safe Harbour Report with recommendations outlined for change in policy Request to mainstream the Outreach & Education Role through CUAN and update in policy for IPAS centres

Meeting (1)

Discussion on the recommendations in the report and ask to mainstream the role within CUAN and update in policy for IPAS Centres

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.

Erin McGreehan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ged Nash TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alison Comyn Senator (Seanad)

Paula Butterly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joanna Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)