Epilepsy Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Epilepsy Ireland

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Advocating for changes to the Department's Free Travel scheme.

Intended results For changes to be made to the scheme to allow for the benefit to be extended to those medically unfit to drive.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paddy McGeoghegan

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 Emailed all members of the Oireachtas regarding the budget announcement of improved access to the Free Travel scheme on 10.10.23

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Emailed all members of the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection thanking them for their support of our Free Travel proposals on 10.10.23

Email (2-5)

Emailed Deputy O'Laoighaire and Deputy Cullinane on 3.10.23 thanking them for including EI Free Travel proposals in the Sinn Fein pre-budget submission.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Met with Minister Humphreys and Department of Social Protection officials regarding their ongoing assessment of EI proposals on Free Travel on 20.9.23

Email (1)

Seeking to further discuss Free Travel proposals with Min Special advisor on 9.10.23

Email (1)

Emailed Minister Humphreys to thank her for support in making changes to Free Travel scheme on 12.10.23

Phone call (1)

Spoke to Minister special advisor RE Free Travel on 9.10.23

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.

Pauric McPhillips Special Adviser (Department of Social Protection)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Social Protection)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis Naughten TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Carey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joan Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Éamon Ó Cuív TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paddy Burke Senator (Seanad)

Róisín Garvey Senator (Seanad)

Paul Gavan Senator (Seanad)

Eugene Murphy Senator (Seanad)

Mark Wall Senator (Seanad)