Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 21 May, 2018

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2018 to 30 Apr, 2018

Specific Details Fetal Valporate Syndrome.

Intended results Supporting those who have been affected in the past by Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome. Supporting families currently affected. Reducing the risks for the future.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Joan O'Donnell (DFI), Peter Murphy (Epilepsy Ireland) as part of the FACS Forum. FACS Forum is a collaboration between DFI, Epilepsy Ireland, OACS Ireland, Shine, GRDO, Migraine Association of Ireland, Medical Research Charities Group.

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

Mass communications

Email All TDs Email sent to all TDs with invitation and detail of asks

Email All Senators Email sent to all Senators with invitation and detail of asks

Email All Councillors Email sent to all city and county councillors with invitation and details of asks

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

1 email sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health 1 email sent to Michael Harty 1 email sent to Billy Kelleher 1 email sent to Simon Harris

Meeting (2-5)

1 meeting with Billy Kelleher 1 meeting with Louise O'Reilly 1 meeting with Simon Harris

Social Media (6-10)

9 tweets - aimed variously at Minister Simon Harris, Minister Finian McGrath, Deputy Michael Harty, Deputy Billy Kelleher

Informal communication (2-5)

4 Newspaper articles calling for action

Event / Reception (1)

1 AV room presentation open to all Oireachtas Members and Councillors

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.

Michael Harty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Finian McGrath Minister of State (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)