Oxfam Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Oxfam Ireland

Date published 20 May, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details EU migration and refugee policy and human rights. The topics related to mistreatment of refugees and migrants in EU countries, violations of international and EU law by EU member states including Greece, and the role of Ireland as an EU member state. We sent Oxfam reports and wrote to Irish politicians on this matter. We also held an event on human rights violations in Libya and invited Irish politicians to attend this event. Oxfam Ireland met with politicians and civil servants.

Intended results Aim: for the Irish government to call for infringement proceedings to be launched by the European Commission against Greece. For the Minister for Justice and Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise these rights violations with their counterparts on European council. For Justice Oireachtas committee to do a hearing on this issue.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Jim Clarken, Aideen Elliott

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Sign a petition

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Email from Jim Clarken to several politicians 7 March 2022 on Oxfam report on closed refugee camps in Greece. Asked politicians for meeting and to raise in their party / department (for Ministers).

Email (2-5)

Email from Jim Clarken to several politicians inviting them to our event on human rights of refugees. 5 May 2022. Also included our policy brief 'Equal Right to Refuge' and request for a meeting.

Meeting (1)

Leinster House 18 May 2022. Meeting with Pa Daly and Martin Kenny TD. We discussed with their advisor (Lee Daly) Greece's violations of international law with refugees, the EU's and Ireland's role in this and our ask for them to pursue this with the Justice committee and within Sinn Fein.

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.

Helen McEntee TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Thomas Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bernard Durkan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne Minister of State (Department of Justice)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Garvey Senator (Seanad)

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)