Mental Health Reform (Mental Health Reform)

Lobbying Organisation Mental Health Reform

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details MHR's event in Leinster House on 25th September; 'Meet&Greet'

Intended results Invite political reps to MHR's event and discuss Mental Health priorities including funding in Budget 2026 and the Mental Health Bill 2024 (distributing MHR's 2-pager of the proposed changes). 'Meet&Greet' - opportunity for elected representatives and/or staff members to learn a bit more about the mental health services and needs in their constituencies. Attendees include members of MHR who are on the frontlines of providing mental health services, members of lived experience

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Louise Rooney

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To speak to the key budget asks that persons with lived experience felt were the key priorities for budget 2026

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Invite to Meet & Greet sent to all TDs, Senators and Ministers. First invite sent on August 27th 2025

Email All Oireachtas Members Reminder Invite emails for Political Meet&Greet at Leinster House sent on September 15th and Sept 22nd.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

This was a 2hr Meet & Greet held on 25th Sept in the Coffee Dock of Leinster House where MHR, our members and people with lived experience were speaking with DPOs who arrived at this time. Topics discussed: funding for Mental Health in Budget 2026, MHR's proposed changes for MH Bill 2024 and the services of Shine. Mental health advocates also spoke about their lived experience of accessing services.

Email (1)

Emailed a copy of Mental Health Reform's Pre Budget Submission on 22nd Sept to Minister Mary Butler and special adviser, Ian Power.

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.

Mary Butler Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aubrey McCarthy Senator (Seanad)

Marie Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Darren O'Rourke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Evanne Ní Chuilinn Senator (Seanad)

John Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sarah O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Máire Devine TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robert O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Butler Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Ian Power Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)