Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Public Expenditure and Reform

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details DFI supported a grassroots advocacy campaign to get public buildings lit up in purple to mark the international day of persons with disabilities.

Intended results Certain public buildings to light up purple to mark the international day of persons with disabilities.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Clare Cronin, Fiona O'Donovan, John Dolan

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? We posted/re-posted approximately 11-20 social media posts inviting people to take a photo of their own buildings and turn it purple with a photo filter to show support for getting buildings lit up in purple. Some tagged DPOs, including: Minister Finian McGrath, Caoimhghin O'Caolain TD, Joan Collins TD, Senator John Dolan, Dublin City Councillors, Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring, Cork County Council.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Social Media All Councillors We posted/re-posted approximately 11-20 social media posts inviting people to take a photo of their own buildings and turn it purple with a photo filter to show support for getting buildings lit up in purple. We selected 'All Councillors' here as Dublin City Council and Cork County Council and City Council were identified in some but others DPOs also tagged were: Minister Finian McGrath, Caoimhghin O'Caolain TD, Joan Collins TD, Senator John Dolan, Dublin City Councillors, Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

1 letter - Sent via post and email to Minister Kevin Boxer Moran from John Dolan requesting that he turn certain public buildings purple, plus two targetted tweets.

Email (1)

1 email and 1 follow up phone call - To Deputy Caoimhghin O'Caolain informing him of the campaign in response to a question from his office on whether anything was being done to mark the international day of persons with disabilities, IDPD.

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.

Kevin Boxer Moran Minister of State (The Office of Public Works)

Finian McGrath Minister of State (Department of Justice and Equality)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joan Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Dolan Senator (Seanad)

Nial Ring Councillor (Dublin City Council)