Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

Lobbying Organisation Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

Date published 21 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details AsIAm hosted the 14th Autism Europe Congress in Dublin and invited a number of elected representatives and DPOs to take part. The Congress was supported by Failte Ireland, Dublin City Council and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

Intended results Support for the 14th Autism Europe Congress Support for creating an impact legacy for the Congress in terms of employment of Autistic people, building capacity within the Autistic community, tackling misinformation and promoting accessibility

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Adam Harris

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 All TDs and Senators associated with the All Party Group on Autism were invited via the official Oireachtas email for this group. All members of the Oireachtas Disability Matters Committee were also invited

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Event / Reception (2-5)

The Congress took place in the RDS and included an opening ceremony in which public representatives (Minister Foley, Minister Foley and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr McAdam, spoke) Receptions were held in the British Embassy, Mansion House and Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge during the course of the 3 days of Congress. The Mansion House event was addressed by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Tánaiste

Email (6-10)

A number of emails were issued to DPOs to invite them to the various events that made up Congress

Email (11-20)

We engaged with the Department and Special Advisors to arrange the participation of Ministers

Phone call (6-10)

We engaged with the Department and Special Advisors to arrange the participation of Ministers

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.

Anne Rabbitte Senator (Seanad)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Ray McAdam Councillor (Dublin City Council)

Bernie McNally Secretary General (Department of Education)

Kevin McCarthy Secretary General (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Colm Ó Conaill Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Barry Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Carrigy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Shakespeare Chief Executive Officer (Dublin City Council)

Noel Byrne Special Adviser (Department of Health)

Ian Power Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael Brennan Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Denise Duffy Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael Moynihan Minister of State (Department of Education)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)

John Kearney Chief Executive Officer (The National Council for Special Education)

Bernard Gloster Chief Executive Officer (Health Service Executive)

Dr Aideen Hartney Director (National Disability Authority)

James Geoghegan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Education)

Devesh Singh Chief Medical Officer (Department of Social Protection)

Eileen Flynn Senator (Seanad)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)