Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Lobbying Organisation Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details INOU participated in the Pre-budget Forum organised by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Intended results To engage with the Minister and the Department to secure better outcomes for unemployed people and others of working age from Budget 2021. In particular to have social welfare rates increased; to have other supports and employment services improved so that they meet people's needs and support the realisation of their ambitions; that the State plans appropriatlely for the impact of COVID-19, Brexit and increased digitalisation in employment, learning and access to supports and services.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Bríd O'Brien, INOU Head of Policy and Media

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.

Meeting (1)

Prior to the Forum the INOU sent its Pre-Budget Submission to the DEASP calling on Government to only change the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on a well signposted and supported basis; benchmark all Social Welfare rates at a level which is sufficient to lift people above the poverty line and provide them with a Minimum Essential Standard of Living; ensure that people most disadvantaged in the labour market are pro-actively provided with tailor made supports; automate access to the Working Family Payment; increase the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to three years; open up access to employment programmes for unemployed people signing on for credits; increase the top-up payment on employment programmes by €7.50; support adult learners to meet the cost of participation in education and training; plan for the impact of Brexit on the labour market; and resource community-based organisations in their work supporting people coping with the impact of COVID-19, social and economic exclusion.

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.

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Jacqui McCrum Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)