Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details Interactions with Oireachtas members

Intended results To inform health policy regarding doctor recruitment and retention, cervical screening and implementation of RCPI's response to the Inquiry into CervicalCheck.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Siobhán Creaton, Head of Public Affairs and Advocacy

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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Siobhán Creaton (Former DPO) Special Advisor (Department of Education and Skills)

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 Oireachtas members were invited, and attended, a briefing on cervical screening that was hosted in Leinster House by Dr Michael Harty TD. The delegation included RCPI President, Prof Mary Horgan, Prof Donal Brennan, Prof Julia Brotherton and Prof Marion Saville who are both experts in cervical screening in Australia, and Prof Louise Burke.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Letter inviting Minister Simon Harris to speak at RCPI Women's Health event November 2018. Minister Harris attended and spoke at this event about the potential to eradicate cervical cancer in Ireland. Members of the Oireachtas Health Committee also invited and some attended. Letter inviting Minister Harris to attend an event to mark the enactment of the Public Health Alcohol Act. The Minister send a video message thanking those present for their advocacy. Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and Senator Frances Black attended.

Meeting (1)

A delegation from RCPI that included President, Prof Mary Horgan, Prof Anthony O'Regan, Dr Niamh Humphries and Siobhán Creaton held a meeting with Minister Simon Harris to discuss issues that are affecting doctor recruitment and retention in the Irish health system. Prof Horgan subsequently forwarded research and further information on doctor recruitment and retention.

Informal communication (2-5)

RCPI representatives met Minister Harris immediately after the passage of the Public Health Alcohol Bill in the Dáil and Seanad to thanks and congratulate him

Email (1)

RCPI pre-Budget submission sent to all Oireachtas members

Letter (1)

Minister Jim Daly invited to Dementia Conference at RCPI

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.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Harty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frances Black Senator (Seanad)

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Stephen Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke Senator (Seanad)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jim Daly Minister of State (Department of Health)