Womens Aid

Lobbying Organisation Womens Aid

Date published 16 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details Women's Aid set out its recommendations for improved domestic violence services for the next programme for Government and called for a cohesive Government response to address identified system deficiencies.

Intended results Government commitment to sustained investment in the DV sector and funding for services; implement improvements in Family Law Court and Criminal Justice System; Assist women who have suffered dv in areas of maintenance, housing and refuge accommodation; Implementation of prevention strategies to focus on education and; legislation to tackle online abuse

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sarah Benson

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

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members In May 2020 Women's Aid sent an email to all Oireachtas Members setting out their response to the recently published ‘Framework Document’ and made proposals for actions and priorities for the next programme for Government.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Request that the new Government are committed to: sustained investment in the DV sector and funding for services; implement improvements in Family Law Court and Criminal Justice System; Assist women who have suffered dv in areas of maintenance, housing and refuge accommodation; Implementation of prevention strategies to focus on education and legislation to tackle online abuse

Virtual Meeting (1)

A Zoom conference call took place with John Lahart on 15th May 2020 to discuss the policy recommendations for the next programme for Government

Virtual Meeting (1)

A Zoom conference call took place with Emer Higgins on 2nd June 2020 to discuss the policy recommendations for the next programme for Government

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.

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Emer Higgins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)