Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Society of St. Vincent de Paul)

Lobbying Organisation Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Date published 21 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Engagement with Ministers and Senior Officials to ensures supports and services are provided to one parent families to address their very high levels of poverty and disproportionate impact of COVID-19 pandemic and school closures.

Intended results That one parent families are protected from the negative financial impacts of the pandemic through adequate income supports, access to childcare and protections of households at risk of utility and rent arrears.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tricia Keilthy

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 (11-20)

The National Alliance's key recommendations for policymakers to prevent an increase in unemployment and poverty among lone parents sent to leaders of government and opposition parties, key party spokespersons and senior officials in relevant Government Departments on the 25th of January 2021

Virtual Meeting (1)

Meeting with senior officials, the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Communities to discuss key recommendations for policymakers to prevent an increase in unemployment and poverty among lone parents, including an increase in the fuel allowance, a top up payment for the Qualified children, supports for utility debt and rent arrears. The meeting also covered the legacy impacts of the cuts to the One Parent Family Payment and the cliff edges created by the changes. 10th of February.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Online meeting with Deputy Kerrane to discuss key recommendations for policy makers to mitigate the financial impacts of the pandemic on one parent families. Discussion also on TOR of new Child Maintenance Review Group. 19th of January 2020.

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)

Joe O'Brien Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Rónán Hession Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Leo Varadkar An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eamon Ryan Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Boyd Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Carol Baxter Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)