Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Seeking introduction of amendments to law and policy to assist victim survivors of domestic violence in accessing housing. Sought amendments to guidance for local authorities on dealing with victim-survivors of domestic violence; sought increased training of local authority housing staff in dealing with victim-survivors of domestic violence; sought introduction of legal mechanism to allow for removal of perpetrators of domestic violence from joint social housing tenancies. (Indirect lobbying).
Methods: Meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice
Intent: Seeking introduction of amendments to law and policy to further assist victim survivors of domestic violence in accessing housing. Discussed: introduction of powers for Gardaí to temporarily remove alleged perpetrators from home to protect life of alleged victim; need for improved mechanisms for victim-survivors to remain in own home; need for mechanism to remove perpetrators of domestic violence from joint social housing tenancies. (Indirect lobbying).
Methods: Meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice
Intent: Inclusion of social housing law and homelessness law matters within scope of proposed new civil legal aid scheme.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Participant in panel discussion on 'Legal Aid, Administrative Decisions & Quasi-Judicial Tribunals', as part of conference on 'Civil Legal Aid: From Review to Reform', co-ordinated by FLAC and the Trinity College Dublin School of Law. Sought inclusion of social housing law and homelessness law matters within scope of proposed new civil legal aid scheme. (Indirect lobbying).
Politician(s) lobbied: Marie Murphy (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Amy Goldsboro (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; David Dunne (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Michael Brennan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Mary Hanna Hourigan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Annemarie 'Shiner' Ryan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Siobhan Ambrose (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Fiona Bonfield (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Louise Morgan Walsh (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Kay Cahill Skehan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Peggy Ryan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Kieran Bourke (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Micheál Anglim (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Mark Fitzgerald (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Declan Burgess (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Roger Kennedy (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; John Crosse (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Tom Acheson (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Pat English (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; John Fitzgerald (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Phyll Bugler (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; John Carroll (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Michael Smith (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; William Kennedy (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Sean Ryan (Councillor), Tipperary County Council; Jonathan Cooney (Director of Services or Equivalent), Tipperary County Council; Sinead Carr (Chief Executive Officer), Tipperary County Council
Intent: Seeking an amendment of section 2.1.7 of the Tipperary County Council Social Housing Allocation Scheme to ensure that: (1) surrendering a tenancy because of domestic violence is never treated by the Council as a “voluntary surrender”, and, (2) victim-survivors of domestic violence who are forced to surrender tenancies to escape perpetrators are not further penalized by the Council through the imposition of deferral periods or otherwise.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Letter to Tipperary County Councillors seeking an amendment of section 2.1.7 of the Tipperary County Council Social Housing Allocation Scheme to ensure that: (1) surrendering a tenancy because of domestic violence is never treated by the Council as a “voluntary surrender”, and, (2) victim-survivors of domestic violence who are forced to surrender tenancies to escape perpetrators are not further penalized by the Council through the imposition of deferral periods or otherwise.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Mercy Law Resource Centre is a meeting with the Minister for Housing to discuss the report's recommendations.
Methods: EmailLetter
Details by Method
Email
The email enclosed a copy of the report.
Letter
The letter enclosed a copy of the report.
Politician(s) lobbied: Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To share Mercy Law Resource Centre's experience with regards to lack of statutory appeals structures in the homelessness and social housing sectors in order that elected representatives are well-informed on the area, should they be minded to discuss the issue publicly or to plan reform in the area.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
The meeting was held in the offices of the Social Democrats in the Department of Agriculture. There were a series of emails with Ellen Casey to arrange the meeting.
Politician(s) lobbied: Conor Sheehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To increase awareness amongst members of the Oireachtas of the legal issues concerning social housing and homeless supports that arise in the context of families entering Ireland through family reunification.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Briefing of TDs and Senators who attended the IHPG Homeless Series Briefing in the Oireachtas AV Room, 1-2pm 26 November 2025
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paula Butterly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Thomas Gould (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rory Hearne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pat Casey (Senator), Seanad; Joe Flaherty (Senator), Seanad; Aubrey McCarthy (Senator), Seanad; Maria McCormack (Senator), Seanad; PJ Murphy (Senator), Seanad; Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Pre-legislative scrutiny of any amendments to the Housing Act 1988 with a focus on compliance with human rights. Letter sent prior to appearance before sitting of committee discussing homelessness.
Methods: EmailLetter
Details by Method
Email
Wrote to all members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage to inform them of previous engagements with Department of Housing on issues related to the Housing Act 1988. Informed them of concerns related to potential amendments and impact on human rights. Requested Pre-Legislative Scrutiny and engagement with NGO sector.
Letter
Wrote to all members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage to inform them of previous engagements with Department of Housing on issues related to the Housing Act 1988. Informed them of concerns related to potential amendments and impact on human rights. Requested Pre-Legislative Scrutiny and engagement with NGO sector.
Politician(s) lobbied: David Kelly (Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Notify staff of Department of Housing of challenges faced by clients, misinterpretation of Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 by local authorities.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Met with Department of Housing officials Nina Murray, Rosemarie Tobin, Darryl Barr, and Dorothy Kellegher to notify the Department of challenges faced by clients, misinterpretation of Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 by local authorities. Provided case studies document of anonymised case studies of clients.
Politician(s) lobbied: Conor Sheehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Provide context on barriers faced by victims of domestic violence in accessing housing.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Email in relation to barriers faced by victims of domestic violence in accessing housing, in response to queries raised by Mr Kerr in advance of a meeting he was due to have with Labour Party Spokesperson on Housing, Conor Sheehan.
