Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details Budget 2019 Submission

Intended results To implement UN CRPD: IHREC & Departments; Individualised community-based services; Personal budgets/rehabilitation/respite/therapies; Pay restoration S 39s; Health; Transport grant and access; Address extra cost of living with disability; Medical card earnings disregard; Disability Allowance; Employment; AT; Social Housing; HAP Placefinders; Incentives for appropriate private construction & rentals; HAG; Assess/appeal/plan/support children & students & FETs/ETBs; Funding conditions

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Anne Winslow, Allen Dunne, Joanne McCarthy, Joan O'Donnell

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)

John Dolan (Currently employed as a DPO) Senator (Seanad)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Informal communication All Oireachtas Members 1 press statement issued to all media by Senator John Dolan to mark cross party disability Oireachtas photocall event. 1 press release by Senator John Dolan to all media re: budget reactions. 4 Interviews by Senator John Dolan with radio and newspaper media.

Informal communication All Oireachtas Members 1 press release by DFI to all media re: budget reactions.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

1 meeting with Philip O'Callaghan, Special Advisor to an Taoiseach. 1 meeting as part of the C&V Pillar with the Department of Public Expenditure. 1 meeting of Senator John Dolan with Special Advisor Gerry Maguire. 1 meeting of Senator John Dolan with Special Advisor Philip O'Callaghan.

Informal communication (6-10)

1. Joan O'Donnell spoke with Minister Regina Doherty on the cost of living while at an event. 2. DFI raised the need to increase PA Services at a briefing hosted by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD in Leinster House re: what is required to implement the UN CRPD. 3. An informal meeting between Anne Winslow and Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. 4. Two interviews by Fiona O'Donovan on Dublin City FM analysing the impact of the budget announcements. 5. Two to five text messages between Anne Winslow and Timmy Dooly TD.

Letter (21-30)

5 letters - Following Budget 2019 departmental allocations DFI wrote to Minister to influence the specifics of departmental allocation. 2 letters - DFI sent Health asks for budget allocation 2019. One to Minister Simon Harris and one to the Head of Social Care, HSE. 17 letters - Sent by Senator John Dolan asking disability to be named as Budget 2019 priority in any public statements.

Social Media (31-50)

Approx. 17 DFI Budget Tweets/retweets/facebook taggings or callings on various Ministers and Ministers of State around DFI's budget 2019 asks. 1 retweet of Dublin City FM tweet which also tagged Dublin City Council. Remaining posted by Senator John Dolan on twitter and facebook marking photocall event of Oireachtas Members and posting his statement reacting to the Budget 2019 announcements.

Event / Reception (1)

1 photocall event (and related organisational correspondence) organised by Senator John Dolan with Party/Group Leaders to take joint photo to highlight disability issues for Budget 2019 taken outside the gate of Leinster House. Invites were issued to: Mary Lou McDonal TD; Roisin Shorthall TD; Catherine Murphy TD; Eamon Ryan TD; Richard Boyd Barrett TD; Ruth Coppinger TD; Clare Daly TD; Mattie McGrath TD; Minister Shane Ross TD; Seamus Healy TD; An Taioseach Leo Varadkar TD; Brendan Howlin TD; Michael Martin TD.

Email (1)

Senator John Dolan sent a copy of his press release reacting to the Budget 2019 announcements to all TDs and Senators.

Designated public officials lobbied

There were no DPOs directly lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area.