ARI

Lobbying Organisation ARI

Date published 16 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Adult immunisation policy and equitable access to shingles vaccination. ARI sought a comprehensive adult-vaccination framework and a publicly funded shingles programme, particularly for people aged 65+ and immunocompromised people, so private cost would not determine access.

Intended results Secure Government commitment and funding for an adult-immunisation framework and publicly funded shingles vaccination for people aged 65+ and immunocompromised people; obtain ministerial engagement; and formally present ARI’s petition signed by 31,196 people.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Alison Bough, Head of Policy & Advocacy, Active Retirement 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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? We asked ARI members and supporters to sign and share our petition calling for fair, State-supported access to the shingles vaccine for adults aged 65+, and to encourage family, friends and their local communities to support the campaign.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Social Media (2-5)

Active Retirement Ireland used its Facebook and LinkedIn channels to promote the shingles vaccine petition, provide campaign updates and encourage members, supporters and the wider public to sign and share the petition calling for fair, State-supported access to the shingles vaccine for older people. Relevant politicians and public representatives were tagged in some campaign posts to raise awareness of the campaign and its policy ask.

Event / Reception (1)

8 July 2026, Leinster House: ARI attended an RSV and adult-vaccination briefing supported by Pádraig O’Sullivan TD and Alison Bough on behalf of Active Retirement Ireland advocated prevention, equitable access and a comprehensive adult-immunisation framework.

Event / Reception (1)

CEO Fran Brennan spoke to John Lahart TD and Colm Burke TD at the official launch of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union at Dublin Castle on 1 July 2026 about Active Retirement Ireland’s shingles vaccination campaign, raising ARI’s call for fair, State-supported access to the shingles vaccine for older people.

Email (11-20)

Active Retirement Ireland engaged with Ministers, TDs, Senators and relevant Government offices by email regarding the shingles vaccination campaign. Correspondence included sharing campaign and petition updates, highlighting the barriers faced by older people in accessing the vaccine, advocating for fair, State-supported access, seeking political and Government support, and requesting engagement with Ministers regarding the handover of ARI’s petition, which received 31,196 signatures.

Meeting (1)

On 13 May 2026, Alison Bough, Fran Brennan and Mai Quaid of Active Retirement Ireland met with Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell TD in Leinster House. The meeting included discussion of ARI’s shingles vaccination campaign and its call for fair, State-supported access to the vaccine for older people, alongside wider priorities relating to preventative health and ageing in place.

Email (2-5)

18 August 2026: meeting requests to Ministers Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Kieran O’Donnell and Jennifer Murnane O’Connor seeking engagement and presentation of Active Retirement Ireland's 31,196-signature petition.

Event / Reception (1)

24 June 2026: At Active Retirement Ireland’s National AGM in Athlone, Alison Bough briefed Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell TD on the progress of ARI’s shingles vaccination campaign and its call for fair, State-supported access to the vaccine for older people. The issue was also raised with the Minister by an ARI member during the Q&A following his address to delegates.

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 Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Kieran O'Donnell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Conway Senator (Seanad)