Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip and Minister), Department of the Taoiseach; Ian Power (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: For legislation to be filed to protect the public from the serious risks associated with the use of AI 'therapy'

Methods: MeetingLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Claire O’ Cleary (Chief Executive Officer), Department of Health; Rachel Kenna (Chief Nursing Officer), Department of Health; Alesssandra Fantini (Head of Unit), Department of Health; Stephen Foley (Special Adviser), Department of Health; Regina Doherty (MEP), European Parliament

Intent: For the Minister of Health to pause the CORU regulatory process for counsellors and psychotherapists to ensure that the Standards and Criteria are subject to a lawful, proportionate, and transparent regulatory process.

Methods: LetterMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip and Minister), Department of the Taoiseach; Séamus Keating (Chairperson), Department of Health; Claire O’ Cleary (Chief Executive Officer), Department of Health; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rachel Kenna (Chief Nursing Officer), Department of Health; Alesssandra Fantini (Head of Unit), Department of Health; Barry Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Teresa Costello (Senator), Seanad; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Mairéad Farrell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire O’ Cleary (Chief Executive Officer), Department of Health

Intent: For the Minister of Health to pause the CORU regulatory process for counsellors and psychotherapists to ensure that the Standards and Criteria are subject to a lawful, proportionate, and transparent regulatory process.

Methods: EmailMeetingLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ian Power (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: The extension of tax relief as a qualifying expense to counselling and psychotherapy.::The application of a VAT exemption to counselling and psychotherapy services which will create an equity between Counsellors/Psychotherapists and other allied health professionals.::The expansion of the counselling in schools program.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip and Minister), Department of the Taoiseach; Séamus Keating (Chairperson), Department of Health; Claire O’ Cleary (Chief Executive Officer), Department of Health

Intent: Urged the Minister and others to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Standards and Criteria are subject to a lawful, proportionate, and transparent regulatory process.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip and Minister), Department of the Taoiseach; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice

Intent: The IACP Calls for the End of the Use of Therapy Notes in Legal Cases Involving Sexual Assault in Ireland.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Stephen Foley (Special Adviser), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip and Minister), Department of the Taoiseach; Ian Power (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance; Deborah Sweeney (Special Adviser), Department of Finance; Ged Nash (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Education; Patrick Cluskey (Adviser to Minister), Department of Education; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoghan Kenny (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Darren O'Rourke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Wall (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: The extension of tax relief as a qualifying expense to counselling and psychotherapy.::The application of a VAT exemption to counselling and psychotherapy services which will create an equity between Counsellors/Psychotherapists and other allied health professionals.::The expansion of the counselling in schools program.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development

Intent: The IACP is urging the Government to act swiftly to expand tax relief for counselling and psychotherapy services to be deemed an eligible expense in line with other health expenses.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development

Intent: For the Counselling in Schools pilot to be made a permanent programme and rolled out to primary and secondary schools across the country.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Mary Butler (Government Chief Whip and Minister), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: An exemption from VAT would increase accessibility to therapy by creating equity of treatment and parity of esteem for mental health professionals providing psychotherapy and counselling services, with those who deliver physical health care. The application of a VAT exemption would bring counsellors and psychotherapists into line with the exemption currently available to psychologists and other health professionals.

Methods: EmailMeeting