Chime

Lobbying Organisation Chime

Date published 19 Jan, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Communications

Period 1 Sep, 2015 to 31 Dec, 2015

Specific Details The need for a modernised text relay service to facilitate Deaf and Hard of Hearing people (and others unable to make voice calls) to have equivalent access to electronic communications in accordance with EU Directive transposed into Irish Law on 1 July 2011 by the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and User’s Rights) Regulations 2011 – S.I. No.337 of 2011.

Intended results The introduction of a modern text relay service into Ireland for Deaf and Hard of Hearing customers of phone/telecommunication companies.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Brendan Lennon, Head of Advocacy, DeafHear.

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.

Meeting (1)

A meeting was sought with the Minister for Communications Alex White early in 2015, and took place on September 7th 2015. We updated the Minister on the work of the ComReg Forum on Electronic Communications Services for People with Disabilities in relation to introducing a modernised text relay service. The Minister agreed that it would be 'desirable' for such a service to introduced by ComReg in 2016.

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.

Alex White Minister (Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)