Crosscare (Crosscare)

Lobbying Organisation Crosscare

Date published 09 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details Supports for Irish emigrants returning in need during the Covid-19 crisis

Intended results In the immediate term, we are proposing: 1) Designating the Healthlink team as the official contact point for anyone returning home into homelessness – with a referral protocol for Consular and other services likes ours 2) Designating the HSE City West facility (or another suitable facility) as an official location for in-need returnees to self-isolate, if they have no alternative, for the mandated 14 days.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Mr Richard King, Project Leader, Crosscare Migrant Project

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 (1)

I am writing regarding Irish emigrants who are returning to Ireland due to Covid-19, and who are in difficult and sometimes vulnerable circumstances. We are funded through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Emigrant Support Programme and have a long history of supporting Irish citizens returning home in crisis. This work has taken on a new level of challenge and complexity since the start of the pandemic. Your colleague Ciaran Cannon TD, Minister for the Diaspora, forwarded a letter to you on my request (dated 8 May 2020). I would like to add further details and updates. I am writing regarding two distinct groups of returnees: (1) those returning into homelessness, and (2) those without finances who need access to self-isolation facilities as they are returning to family homes where there are at-risk or vulnerable family members.

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)