Children in Hospital Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Children in Hospital Ireland

Date published 20 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Providing information on the findings and recommendations of Children in Hospital Ireland’s research report ‘Childhood Illness, Financial Stress - The Hidden Costs of Hospital Care for Children’. The report focused on the non-medical costs associated with having a child in hospital and the financial supports available to families. Discussing the report's findings with DPOs and asking about the opportunity to present to Oireachtas committees.

Intended results Greater awareness of the financial issues that families with children in hospital face because of the non-financial expenses associated with a child's hospitalisation. The opportunity to present these results to relevant Oireachtas committees to further extend this awareness.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Anna Gunning

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.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Anna Gunning (CEO) and Laura Austen-Gray (Advocacy Officer) presented the report's findings and recommendations to Senator Erin McGreehan. Potential ways to highlight the issue (such as an opinion piece in the newspapers) and gain additional information on the topic (Parliamentary Questions) were discussed.

Email (1)

An email was sent to Kathleen Funchion TD, containing a copy of the report and asking if any advice could be offered on how to further any of the recommendations raised within the report. The emails also asked if there be an opportunity to present the research’s findings to the recipient and/or an Oireachtas Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.

Email (1)

An email was sent to David Cullinane TD, containing a copy of the report and asking if any advice could be offered on how to further any of the recommendations raised within the report. The emails also asked if there be an opportunity to present the research’s findings to the recipient and/or an Oireachtas Committee on Health.

Virtual Meeting (1)

Anna Gunning (CEO) and Laura Austen-Gray (Advocacy Officer) presented the report's findings and recommendations to David Cullinane TD. The potential of presenting the issue to the Oireachtas Health Committee was discussed.

Email (1)

An email was sent to Róisín Shorthall TD, containing a copy of the report and asking if any advice could be offered on how to further any of the recommendations raised within the report. The emails also asked if there be an opportunity to present the research’s findings to the recipient and/or an Oireachtas Committee on Health.

Email (1)

An email was sent to Claire Kerrane TD, containing a copy of the report and asking if any advice could be offered on how to further any of the recommendations raised within the report. The emails also asked if there would be an opportunity to present the research findings to the recipient and/or an Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands.

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.

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Vicki Casserly Councillor (South Dublin County Council)

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan Councillor (Louth County council)