National Infertility Support and Information Group

Lobbying Organisation National Infertility Support and Information Group

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

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 & online support meetings, peer to peer support and their 24-hour help line

Intended results NISIG was in contact with Officials from the Department of Health ,with an update as to how NISIG were supporting couples/individuals during the recent COVID crisis(moving support services on-line) and the closure of the fertility clinics in the second quarter 2020. In addition, NISIG contacted the Department of Health to get a progress update on the recommendations of the Joint Health Committee issued in 2019, in relation to the Draft AHR legislation. To introduce NISIG to the new Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, to explain the nature and objectives of our organisation, requesting a meeting with him.

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 emailed Officials from the Department of Health, with an update as to how NISIG were supporting couples/individuals with online support services, due to the closure of fertility clinics, at the onset of the COVID crisis..

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Officials from the Department of Health, requesting an update on progress in relation to the recommendations of the Joint Health Committee on the Draft AHR legislation issued in 2019. NISIG also stressed how critical it is that appropriate AHR legislation gets enacted in a timely manner.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed the new Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly upon his appointment, to introduce NISIG, explain the nature and objectives of our organisation and our role in the campaign for appropriate AHR legislation. We requested a meeting to discuss this in further detail.

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.

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)