Safetynet Primary Care

Lobbying Organisation Safetynet Primary Care

Date published 16 Dec, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details Parliamentary Question Request - Why is State not funding intepreters for GPs when seeing Roma people who do not speak English.

Intended results Answer to Question in Parliament.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dr Angela Skuce, Medical Director, Safetynet Primary Care

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.

Email (1)

Evidence is emerging that the Roma population in Ireland are being disproportionately affected by Covid 19, more than any other vulnerable group. Many of them do not speak English. Why is the State still not funding interpreters for GPs when seeing Roma people who do not speak English, so that they can access the healthcare to which they are entitled, and which would be in the public interest? This despite Ireland's National Traveller and Roma Integration strategy, and 500 million euro funding from the EU for Social Inclusion in the past 6 years. There are estimated to be up to 5000 Roma people living in Ireland.

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.

Chris Andrews TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)