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 09 Jan, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Public Expenditure and Reform

Period 1 Sep, 2022 to 31 Dec, 2022

Specific Details Refuge Development

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

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity CEO Mary McDermott, 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.

Meeting (2-5)

In person meeting in Leinster House 5th September with Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and Lisa Morris (Board Secretary of Safe Ireland & Manager of Amber Womens Refuge in Kilkenny), Kathleen Chada (Board Member Safe Ireland) and CEO of Safe Ireland Mary McDermott to discuss refuge development in Carlow. In person meeting at Leinster House on 3rd October with Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and Lisa Morris (Board Secretary of Safe Ireland & Manager of Amber Womens Refuge in Kilkenny), Kathleen Chada (Board Member Safe Ireland) and CEO of Safe Ireland Mary McDermott to discuss refuge development in Carlow.

Email (6-10)

Email correspondence August to October 2022 between CEO Mary McDermott and Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor to arrange in person meetings.

Email (2-5)

Email from Niamh Smyth TD dated 16th November inviting CEO Mary McDermott to attend a meeting on refuge development in respect of the Monaghan Cavan area. Several emails ensued between Deputy Smyth and Mary McDermott in relation to the date of the meeting with it finalised for 12th December 2022 at 2.30 pm.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Meeting took place on 12th December at 2.30 pm via Zoom. In attendance were Niamh Smyth TD, Bridie McBrearty Cavan County Council, Nial O'Connor Monaghan County Council, Siobhan McKenna Tearmann DV Services, Aidan O'Reilly Department of Housing, Deirdre Snoek Dept Housing, Garda Inspector Niall McKiernan, Joan Mullan Tusla, Cavan Monaghan Division's Chief Superintendent, Alan McGovern, and Safe Ireland CEO Mary McDermott and Services Development Manager Lisa Marmion.

Email (1)

Email to Senator Victor Boyhan from Mary McDermott on 13th December with word attachment containing some useful notes for him as he was due to speak the following afternoon on a motion regarding the Report of the Joint Committee on Justice entitled ‘Report on Women’s Shelters and Domestic Abuse Refuges’ Domestic Violence Shelters/Refuges on behalf of the Seanad Independent Group.

Phone call (1)

Mary McDermott tried to phone Senator Victor Boyhan on 13th December after noting he was due to speak the following day on a Report on Women’s Shelters and Domestic Abuse Refuges but was unsuccessful as the Senator was out of the office at lunch.

Meeting (1)

Emma McHugh Minister Heather Humphreys private Secretary invited Siobhan McKenna Manager at Tearmann DVS and Mary McDermott to meet with her on Friday 8th December at 10.00 am at Tearmann DVS in Cavan. Siobhan and Mary discussed the extent of refuge development required in Cavan and Monaghan.

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.

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

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Justice)