Muscular Dystrophy Society of Ireland GLC (Muscular Dystrophy Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Muscular Dystrophy Society of Ireland GLC

Date published 21 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Call to prioritise people with muscular dystrophy/neuromuscular conditions who are very high risk / extremely medically vulnerable and high risk from Covid-19 for vaccination, as well as their unpaid/informal carers.

Intended results Prioritisation for COVID-19 vaccination of people with muscular dystrophy/neuromuscular conditions who are very high risk / extremely medically vulnerable and high risk from Covid-19 for vaccination, as well as their unpaid/informal carers.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elaine Mc Donnell

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? Invited members of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland to take part in letter-writing campaign to their TDs seeking support for the above.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Letter - sent by email - from MDI CEO and Chairperson calling to prioritise people with muscular dystrophy/neuromuscular conditions who are very high risk / extremely medically vulnerable and high risk from Covid-19 for vaccination, as well as their unpaid/informal carers.

Social Media (2-5)

Using MDI's social media platforms, we invited members to take part in letter-writing campaign to their TDs seeking support for the above.

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.

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Leo Varadkar An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gino Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)