Alcohol Forum Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Alcohol Forum Ireland

Date published 21 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Community campaign to seek changes to the provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill (2023) to protect health, well being and strengthen the protections on children's rights.

Intended results Amendments and changes to the Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022) to better protect health, well being, public safety and children's rights.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paula Leonard

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? Preparation and circulation of letter and email communications for ICAAN member groups and request that they would localise and circulate to Oireachtas members in their local areas. Ongoing liaison with a number of ICAAN members who were raising matters relevant to the campaign with Oireachtas members in their areas. Training for ICAAN member organisations to understand and support their advocacy around provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill(2022)

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Oireachtas Members Campaign letter sent to all Oireachtas members regarding concerns relating to the provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022), outlining concerns around potential risks and impacts on public health, well being, safety and children's rights.

Email All Oireachtas Members Invitation sent to all Oireachtas members in April for a campaign event scheduled for May 9th, an in person briefing and launch of a cost benefit analysis report on the Sale of Alcohol Bill by global alcohol policy expert, Professor Tom Babor completed as part of ongoing collaboration between Prof Babor, AFI and ICAAN.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Liaison with Senator Mary Kearney seeking support for AFI and ICAAN to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline concerns for children's rights, well being and health relating to the provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill.

Phone call (2-5)

Phone calls and texts to Thomas Pringle TD outlining our concerns regarding the Sale of Alcohol Bill and asking that he would attend when we appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice (Jan 31st) as part of the Pre Legislative Scrutiny of the Bill.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Meeting with Thomas Gould TD and a number of Sinn Fein staff to outline concerns about the Bill and request that Deputy Gould would raise some PQ's relating to AFI and ICAAN concerns regarding provisions of the Bill.

Phone call (1)

Discussion with Senator Frances Black's office requesting that she would request that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health would facilitate a discussion on the Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022) and the impacts it will have on health and well being.

Letter (6-10)

Letter to all Oireachtas members in Sligo and Leitrim and to Ministers for Health and Justice from our M-Pact programme (supports to families impacted by parental alcohol / substance use) to raise concerns about risks of the provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill to the rights, well being and health of children.

Letter (6-10)

Letters to all Oireachtas members in Cavan and Monaghan from our MaCYSS (under 18s addiction service) to raise concerns about risks of the provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill to the rights, well being and health of children.

Email (2-5)

James Lawless TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, follow up on issues raised at the Committee's pre legislative scrutiny of the Sale of Alcohol Bill

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.

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frances Black Senator (Seanad)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Justice)

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robbie Gallagher Senator (Seanad)

Joe O'Reilly Senator (Seanad)

Diarmuid Wilson Senator (Seanad)

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Heather Humphreys TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pauline Tully TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frank Feighan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marian Harkin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc MacSharry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Lawless TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)