Immigrant Council of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Immigrant Council of Ireland

Date published 19 Jan, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2015 to 31 Dec, 2015

Specific Details To advance the Sexual Offences Bill as priority legislation

Intended results Advancement of the Sexual Offences Bill as priority legislation

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Jerry O'Connor, Communications and Advocacy Manager, Immigrant Council of 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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Jerry O'Connor (Former DPO) Press Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Supporters were encouraged to email all Oireachtas Members using the following text. Text of email. The sex ‘trade’ is a violent, vicious, exploitative, criminal enterprise which has to be disrupted at the point of sale. As my public representative I am asking you to support the criminalisation of the buyers of sex as outlined in new Sexual Offences Bill to end demand for these human rights abuses. The links between organised crime and prostitution have been well documented and were highlighted by Senior Gardaí in testimony before the Oireachtas Justice Committee – which led to unanimous backing for sex buyer laws as well as measures to ensure that those women in prostitution are not at any staged treated as criminals. I believe such laws coupled with supports and protections for women in prostitution are achievable by Christmas. Please use your voice to achieve that goal.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Senators A briefing document was sent to all Senators on 1st December in advance of the debate on the Sexual Offences Bill. The brief set out the arguments of the Immigrant Council of Ireland and other frontline organisations working with victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation for laws targeting demand.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Immigrant Council of Ireland hosted briefing for Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, TD by the Swedish National Anti Trafficking Rapporteur on the success of laws targeting demand for sex trafficking. At the end of the briefing the Council asked the Minister to prioritise the Sexual Offences Bill in the Oireachtas.

Event / Reception (2-5)

All members of the Oireachtas were invited to 2 photo-ops and briefings on the need for laws targeting demand for sex trafficking and prostitution (as contained in Sexual Offences Bill). Events attended by Minister of State Aodhan O'Riordain, Trevor O’Clochartaigh TD, Padraig MacLochlainn TD, Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, Senator Ivana Bacik, Senator Michael Mullins, Anne Ferris TD, Senator Jillian Van Turnhout, Emet Stagg TD, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, TD. At each event Senators and TDs were asked to ensure the Sexual Offences Bill and the measures it contains would be advanced as priority legislation.

Event / Reception (1)

On 10th December the Chair of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, John Cunningham and Anti Trafficking Expert Denise Charlton, briefly met the Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald TD at an event hosted by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. During a brief conversation assurances were given that the Sexual Offences Bill remains a priority for Government.

Event / Reception (1)

Members of the Oireachtas attended the annual Mothers and Daughters Fundraiser for the frontline anti-trafficking services of the Immigrant Council of Ireland during which it was confirmed that upwards of 30 women were receiving support. During the course of remarks to the gathering TDs and Senators were asked to prioritise the measures contained in the Sexual Offences Bill.

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.

Frances Fitzgerald Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Minister of State (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

Pádraig MacLochlainn TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Ferris TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fidelma Healy Eames Senator (Seanad)

Ivana Bacik Senator (Seanad)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jillian van Turnhout Senator (Seanad)

Michael Mullins Senator (Seanad)

Emmet Stagg TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Katherine Zappone Senator (Seanad)