SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

Lobbying Organisation SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

Date published 04 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Finance

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Credit Union (Amendments) Bill 2022

Intended results Provide expert input into how credit unions might become involved in recognising coercive control and financial abuse in respect of domestic violence in their communities.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity CEO Mary McDermott

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.

Email (2-5)

Email dated 17th February from Robert Hopkins Department of Finance on behalf of Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill inviting CEO Mary McDermott to a meeting to discuss the Credit Union (Amendments) Bill 2022. Second email dated 3rd March confirming the date and location of the meeting.

Submission (1)

Meeting which took place on 9th March in the Department of Finance with Representatives from Men's Aid, Women's Aid and CEO of Safe Ireland Mary McDermott was also in attendance. The meeting was hosted by Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and representatives from the Credit Union Policy, Shareholding and Financial Advisory Division in the Department of Finance.

Email (2-5)

Email from Brian Corr Head of Credit Union Policy, Shareholding & Financial Advisory Division 13th March to Mary McDermott with Credit Union Act 1997 attached stating that the Dept would follow up with both the ILCU and CUMA to arrange meeting on training on DV and coercive control for their members. 2nd mail to Brian Corr on 13th March confirmed Safe Ireland would meet with credit unions on training in coercive and financial control as it relates to domestic sexual and gender-based violence.

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.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister of State (Department of Finance)