Politician(s) lobbied: Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ruairí Ó Murchú (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gillian Toole (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Séamus Healy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aisling Dempsey (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Senator), Seanad; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Nikki Bradley (Senator), Seanad; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: We invited members of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and Oireachtas disability spokespeople to Inclusion Ireland’s AGM on 17th June, and asked them to join a panel discussion with our members on advancing independent living and community supports in line with Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Methods: Email
Politician(s) lobbied: Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad
Intent: Inclusion Ireland shared our Cost of Disability submission with Senator Laura Harmon of the Labour Party at her request. We hoped that sharing our proposals would influence Labour's submission to the consultation and emphasise the need for a person-centred payment.
Methods: Email
Politician(s) lobbied: Maurice Quinlivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: We contacted Deputy Quinlivan in his capacity as Cathaoirleach of the Disability Matters Committee, as well as Deputies Carrighy and Daly, to request a briefing on the findings of our report into the Farrelly Commission’s process, as well as request that the Disability Committee consider organising a series of public hearings on the issue, to hear from impacted survivors, their families, and advocacy groups.
Methods: Email
Politician(s) lobbied: Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: We sought the Social Democrats' support for our policy positions on access to services and supports.
Methods: Virtual Meeting
Details by Method
Virtual Meeting
No description
Politician(s) lobbied: Bernie McNally (Secretary General), Department of Education
Intent: Ensuring the participation of Inclusion Ireland's members and people with intellectual disabilities in the creation of public policy.
Methods: Meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: Shape implementation of national disability policy and bring the views of Inclusion Ireland's members to the table.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
In-person meeting with fellow SMG members, the Taoiseach, and the Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality.
Politician(s) lobbied: Colm Ó Conaill (Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: Bring the views of our members in shaping actions from the Disability Capacity Review to the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality.
Methods: Meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Emer Higgins (Minister of State), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: We sought to inform the Minister of State of the key challenges and concerns people with intellectual disabilities and their families are facing in the present policy landscape.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Emails were exchanged with the Minister's office between Inclusion Ireland to secure a date for us to meet the Minister and her team in-person in early 2026.
Politician(s) lobbied: Hildegarde Naughton (Minister), Department of Education
Intent: We sought to impress on the Minister key points from our feedback to the Department’s proposed implementation plan for EPSEN reform, and how these ought to be considered in the Convention’s context directly with educators, families, and schoolchildren with intellectual disabilities.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Emails were exchanged between Inclusion Ireland and the Minister's office to secure a potential date for us to brief her and her policy team.
Politician(s) lobbied: Michael Moynihan (Minister of State), Department of Education
Intent: We attended a virtual meeting with the Minister of State for Special Education and his officials to discuss our feedback to the Department of Education and Youth's proposed plan to implement recommendations arising from its Review into the EPSEN Act 2004, with a view to emphasise implementing changes through a rights-based lens, underpinned by a statutory and resourced Inclusive Education Plan.
Methods: EmailVirtual Meeting
Details by Method
Email
Emails were exchanged between Inclusion Ireland and the Minister's Office to secure a virtual meeting, the times, dates, and confirmed attendees.
Virtual Meeting
Online call between Minister Moynihan, his policy adviser, Inclusion Ireland's CEO Derval McDonagh, and Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator Gáibhin McGranaghan.
