Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 18 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Oireachtas Disability Group, ODG, Meetings

Intended results To inform all Oireachtas Members on key disability matters (refer to list of priority asks outlined under the mass communications section)

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Joanne McCarthy, John Dolan, Ríona Morris

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 2 post-meeting mass emails were sent to all Oireachtas Members on 13/01/21 & 10/03/21 thanking those present for their participation and outlining to all the priority asks from the ODG's presentations: . Reinstatement of NPHET Vulnerable People sub-group & mechanism for disability to engage with High Risk sub-group . Better data on disability, especially people living in their own homes . Prioritisation of the vaccine for people with disabilities at high risk, family carers and all staff in disability services . Expediated testing for disability service staff . Paying attention to priority issues like digital divide, school closures, etc. . Publication of the Capacity Review of Disability Services . Multi-annual funding for disability services . Addressing deficits in disability organisations . Addressing the high poverty of people with disabilities . Ensuring people with disabilities are not left behind in the COVID-19 recovery

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

2 virtual meetings were held on 12/01/21 & 05/03/21 with various Oireachtas Members in attendance (all Oireachtas Members were invited).

Designated public officials lobbied

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