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 05 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Family Courts Bill 2022

Intended results Influence legislation to ensure better outcomes for victims/survivors of domestic violence.

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

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 (2-5)

Email from the Minister for Justice to Mary McDermott dated 14th June in response to a submission on the Family Courts Bill 2022 issued by Safe Ireland to the Minister on 4th April. The email outlined the work the Minister is doing to progress this Bill. Response on 14th June from Mary to the Minister thanked her for her update and explained Safe Ireland's differing position on the extension of the District Court to divorce cases adding that it will create overwhelm for the Courts Service.

Email (1)

Invitation from the Minister's Office to Mary McDermott or nominated representative of Safe Ireland by email dated 10th July in respect of a Stakeholder meeting due to take place in the Department of Justice on 17th July on the Family Courts Bill 2022.

Meeting (1)

Meeting in the Department of Justice on 17th July which Caroline Counihan BL attended along with other stakeholders and at which the Minister for Justice was present.

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.

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)