Irish Development Education Association

Lobbying Organisation Irish Development Education Association

Date published 19 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Foreign Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Signed civil society letter to all TDs and Senators urging Ireland to join the Hague Group

Intended results Irish Government to join the Hague Group (Group of countries taking actions including sanctions to pressure Israel to stop its genocide and war crimes in Gaza)

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ruairi McKiernan (co-signatory)

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.

Letter (1)

IDEA signed a letter addressed to all TDs and Senators hand-delivered to Senators Lynn Ruane, Alice-Mary Higgins and Frances Black on 17 September, urging them Publicly declare support for Ireland’s membership of the Hague Group; Advocate within your party and in Government for Ireland to sign the six pledges; and Ensure that Ireland formally joins the Hague Group before the 20 September deadline.

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.

Alice-Mary Higgins Senator (Seanad)

Frances Black Senator (Seanad)

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)