Epilepsy Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Epilepsy Ireland

Date published 18 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details Highlighting Epilepsy Ireland proposals around improving access to Free Travel for people with epilepsy.

Intended results For Deputies & Senators to raise the issue and seek to implement our proposals around access to Free Travel. Seeking for Deputies & Senators to raise awareness of this issue.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paddy McGeoghegan, Advocacy & Communications Manager

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? On our website & social media, we provided a template letter to our members/supporters to send to TDs and Senators if they so wished.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (21-30)

This entry is designed to incorporate all communications with DPOs listed below.

Email (2-5)

Contacted Deputy Michael Moynihan in role as Chair of Oireachtas Committee on Disability.

Email (6-10)

Contacted Deputy Denis Moynihan in role as Chair of Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection.

Email (1)

Contacted Deputy Kieran O'Donnell in role as Chair of Oireachtas Committee on Transport.

Phone call (1)

Spoke with Senator Erin McGreehan around our proposals on Free Travel

Social Media (2-5)

Tagged Ministers McGrath, Donohoe & Humphreys in a tweet around our proposals on Free Travel. Thanked Deputies who raised this issue publicly in the Dáil.

Email (2-5)

Contacting Councillors about motions that they had planned on submitting on Free Travel

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.

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Health)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denis Naughten TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Berry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kieran O'Donnell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Aindrias Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Eoin Ó Broin Councillor (South Dublin County Council)

Martina O'Connor Councillor (Galway City Council)

Niall McNelis Councillor (Galway City Council)

Seán Canney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)