National Infertility Support and Information Group

Lobbying Organisation National Infertility Support and Information Group

Date published 20 Sep, 2019

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2019 to 31 Aug, 2019

Specific Details NISIG is a charity supporting and advocating on behalf of those experiencing fertility issues - NISIG represents the views of its membership and advocates on their behalf for Public Funding for AHR treatments under the proposed new legislation. In addition NISIG is also looking for public funding in order to continue supporting their members through support meetings, peer to peer and telephone support

Intended results Urgent need for AHR regulation to be enacted in a timely manner and that adequate public funding be made available to those embarking on fertility treat,ment. In relation to surrogacy that any legislation should reflect the reality, that nearly all surrogacy arrangements take place outside of Ireland. To advocate for the Patient Voice to be represented on the new AHR Regulatory Authority. NISIG desperately needs public funding to continue to support those experiencing fertility issues,

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Gillian Keegan; Bryan Hickson

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.

Letter (2-5)

NISIG wrote to both the Minister of Health Simon Harris and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone in relation to our organisation, specifically asking for a meeting to discuss the proposed AHR legsialtion, the financial difficulties our members face funding their fertility treatments and also to ask for some funding for our organisation. We received acknowledgement of our communications but no actual meeting.

Email (2-5)

NISIG has been in e-mail contact with Louise O'Reilly SF TD's office since May in relation to the proposed AHR legislation specifically to ask for information on the time table for its enactment. In addition NISIG has been advocaing for the partient voice to be represented on the new AHR regulatory Authority,NISIG has asked to be considered for this position.

Informal communication (1)

Gillian Keegan called into Stephen Donnelly TD local constituency office in May to have an informal conversation in relation to the new AHR legislation - primarily the key question was to confirm the process involved in its enactment and to get some idea of the likely timings for its enactment

Meeting (2-5)

NISIG was invited as a guest to attend a number of meetings of an informal working group (comprised of fertility clinics and legal experts) set up in light of the proposed AHR legislation and its potential impact on patients going through fertility treatments. No letters have been sent on behalf of the group,however individual members of the group( not NISIG) have been in contact with ministers and departments over the last few months.

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.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

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

Stephen Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Katherine Zappone Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)