Christine Buckley Centre for Education and Support CLG

Lobbying Organisation Christine Buckley Centre for Education and Support CLG

Date published 21 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters: The Christine Buckley Centre among other agencies working together contacted all depts of the Oireachtas on 5th October and released a press statement in light of the upcoming report release. They launched the Facing The Future Together Report to highlight issues and identified 5 key asks for all Survivors. Our Co-Founder was interviewed on the launch via webinar 9th October and via press.

Intended results 5 Key Asks for All Survivors: 1. Global Supports for Survivors based outside Ireland. 2. Services for Families- Accessible Counselling. 3. Health Amendment Act Health Card for All Survivors. 4. Advocacy Support including Public Services with Strong links to Support Services. 5. Trauma Informed Training for All Staff working in customer facing roles on how to identify Survivors and Respond to their unique needs. From the Christine Buckley Centre to also highlight the need for increased resources and supports to be given to Frontline services who already working directly with Survivors.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Carmel McDonnell Byrne Co-Founder, Manager Nóra Dempsey and Chairperson of the Board Donal Buckley

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 Oireachtas Members A General email was sent out to promote the Facing the Future Together Report alongside the press release which was issued by the working Group formed after a conference in 2019 by our Co Founder Carmel McDonnell Byrne and the Manager of the Christine Buckley Centre, Caranua, Right of Place Second Chance, HSE, One in Four, Towards Healing, Barnardos Origins.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Event / Reception (51-100)

After the email was sent on the 5th October a webinar was held on 9th October to launch the Facing the Future Together Report and invites were sent to Members of the Oireachtas, Press and Survivors networks in Ireland. After this panelists from the groups spoke to the press in following weeks. The Oireachtas Members received PDF versions on 5th October and printed hardcopies in the following weeks.

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.

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)