SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

Lobbying Organisation SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

Date published 01 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details Refuge Development

Intended results Influence refuge roll out so that it is done in a proper, structured and sustained way based on Safe Ireland's recommendation with input from existing Domestic Violence Specialist Services especially in relation to the provision of wraparound services.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity CEO Mary McDermott; Lisa Marmion Services Development Manager; Board Member Kathleen Chada; Board Secretary Lisa 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

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (6-10)

Several emails between Deputy Niamh Smyth and Mary McDermott Safe to arrange a meeting between Deputy Smyth and Safe Ireland as well as various stakeholders in Cavan and Monaghan (invited to attend by Deputy Smyth) as well as Siobhan McKenna of Tearmann DVS to discuss the possibility of well planned refuge provision in the Cavan/Monaghan area.

Meeting (1)

In person meeting at Leinster House on 18th May at which Deputy Smyth, Mary McDermott and Lisa Marmion from Safe Ireland and Siobhan McKenna from Tearmann Domestic Violence Services were all present. Also in attendance were the following people: Aidan O’Reilly – Department of Housing; Deirdre Snoek Department of Housing; Joan Mullan - Tusla; Chief Superintendent for Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division Alan McGovern; Garda Inspector Nial McKiernan; Nial O’Connor – Senior Executive Officer – Housing Department - Monaghan County Council; Bridie McBrearty – Senior Executive Officer – Housing Department - Cavan County Council. Discussions were on the provision of well planned refuge development in the Cavan Monaghan area.

Email (2-5)

Several emails between Senior Policy Officer Corona Joyce Fianna Fail and CEO Mary McDermott to arrange a virtual meeting for Safe Ireland and all stakeholders with Deputy Niamh Smyth, the purpose of which is to discuss refuge development in the Monaghan and Cavan area.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Zoom meeting hosted by Niamh Smyth TD on 21st July 2022 at 12.00 pm with various stakeholders in Monaghan and Cavan (Aidan O’Reilly – Department of Housing, Deirdre Snoek – Department of Housing, Joan Mullan - Tusla, Chief Superintendent for Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division Alan McGovern, Garda Inspector Nial McKiernan, Nial O’Connor – Senior Executive Officer – Housing Department - Monaghan County Council, Bridie McBrearty – Senior Executive Officer – Housing Department - Cavan County Council) and representatives from the DV services which included Safe Ireland CEO Mary McDermott, Safe Ireland Services Development Manager Lisa Marmion and CEO of Tearmann Domestic Violence Services Siobhan McKenna.

Email (2-5)

Email correspondence between CEO Mary McDermott and Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor with a view to meeting with Board Member Kathleen Chada to discuss refuge provision in Carlow

Virtual Meeting (1)

Virtual meeting via MS Teams at 12.30 pm on Friday 27th May between Kathleen Chada, Mary McDermott and Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor to discuss refuge development in Carlow. Email from Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD to CEO Mary McDermott on 10th August requesting a meeting the following week. Mary was on annual leave so a response was issued by email to say she will respond on her return.

Email (6-10)

Correspondence received on 13th and 15th August by email to arrange meeting on 31st August. There was additional correspondence by email 25th August to reschedule this meeting for 5th September at 2.00 pm in Leinster House. Lisa Morris, Board Secretary of Safe Ireland and Manager of Amber Womens Refuge in Kilkenny will be in attendance along with CEO of Safe Ireland Mary McDermott and Board Member Kathleen Chada.

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.

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)