Inclusion Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Inclusion Ireland

Date published 27 Nov, 2015

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2015 to 31 Dec, 2015

Specific Details Joint Committee on Health and Children meeting to discuss Advocacy Services.

Intended results Inclusion Ireland proposed the establishment of a National Advocacy Authority which would have responsibility for the coordination and oversight for all advocacy services in receipt of public services. This authority would work alongside the existing public bodies such as Hiqa, CIB and the Ombudsman etc. Inclusion Ireland would hope the Committee will consider our proposals when compiling a report on Advocacy Services in Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Inclusion Ireland CEO Paddy Connolly

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.

Meeting (1)

Inclusion Ireland also pointed out a number of gaps in the current advocacy system including: 1. There is urgent need for a broad spectrum of advocacy supports. 2. There are no national guidelines or standards for advocacy provision. 3. There is no national information campaign on the right to advocacy or how to access advocacy services. 4. There is a little or no coordination of advocacy services. 5. No funding exists for the development of a range of advocacy models. 6. Funding for patient advocacy services has been cut in recent years. Inclusion Ireland wants the Committee to consider changes to the current system.

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.

Jerry Buttimer TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Séamus Healy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sandra McLellan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dan Neville TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke Senator (Seanad)

John Crown Senator (Seanad)

Jillian van Turnhout Senator (Seanad)