National Infertility Support and Information Group

Lobbying Organisation National Infertility Support and Information Group

Date published 19 Feb, 2020

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details NISIG is the only Irish charity supporting and advocacy on behalf of those experiencing fertility issues - NISIG represents the views of its membership advocating for some level of Public Funding for AHR treatments under the proposed new AHR legislation. In addition NISIG is also looking for funding in order to continue supporting their members through regional support meetings, peer to peer support and their 24 hour help line.

Intended results NISIG asked for some clarity around whether IVF would be included as part of the new public funding model launched by Minister of Health in Dec 2019. If IVF was not not to be part of the public funding model, we asked for clarification regarding what treatments would be included. Also, would public funding be made available to those attending private fertility clinics.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Gillian Keegan

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 (1)

NISIG made contact with Louise O'Reilly SF TD's office in December 2019 upon the announcement by the Minister of Health Simon Harris of the €2M public funding to be made available for IVF and fertility treatments . We asked Deputy O'Reilly if she provide some clarity around whether IVF would be included as part of this funding model. If IVF was not to be included in the public funding model could we get some clarification regarding what treatments would be included and would public funding be made available to those attending private fertility clinics. Louise O'Reilly SF TD responded and said she would put in some PQs in relation to these questions and hoped to have some answers in the New Year.

Email (6-10)

NISIG contacted an Assistant Principal Officer in the Dept of Health in mid November requesting a meeting with the relevant department officials to get an update and discuss the following items in relation to the proposed AHR legislation.. 1. Update on proposed AHR Bill. 2. Discuss the proposals for Public Funding of AHR treatments. 3. NISIG's potential role in the new proposed Regulatory Authority as the Independent Patient representative. 4. Surrogacy issue; which is a very complex area, how will this be managed in the proposed legislation 5. Removal of anonymity in relation to donor conception, will there be cooling period (2-3 yrs.) to facilitate this transition? 6. How will parents be supported in relation to revealing and discussing a child's origins with them, research shows that support is really vital in order to have a positive result. A meeting was therefore organised with the Dept officials for mid January 2020.

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.

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)