Nursing Homes Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Jenny McCormack (Special Adviser), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: To ensure that the government amend the Employment Permits Act 2024 with regard to the criteria that restricts the number of employment permits individual employers can hold (50:50 Rule) as soon as possible as the consequences and the impact of the legislation for the sector are huge and to ensure continuity of care and ensure that services can be sustained during the forthcoming winter period.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: NHI highlighted to the Ministers that it is essential the legislative amendment to the 50:50 Employment Permits rule is progressed and passed as a priority to ensure service continuity across the sector.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peadar Tóibín (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport

Intent: NHI has been calling for increases in the Fair Deal budget to reflect the reality of significant cost increases being experienced in the sector. While some marginal increases have been forthcoming each year, the quantum is far from what is required. NHI welcomed meetings with the Minister and TD's to discuss the NHSS pricing review, the future of nursing home care and to ensure Government delivers on the express commitment in the Programme for Government .

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice

Intent: NHI requested the Ministers support and intervention in urgently addressing the issues with Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) for Nurses. NHI respectfully requested that the previously accepted process is reinstated as a matter of urgency. And welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Minister to discuss.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: Given the significance of MAR in determining HCA employment salary thresholds and its direct impact on workforce costs, it is essential that these figures are fully reflected in all budgetary projections and funding analysis. Accordingly, NHI requested the precise cost projections utilised by the DETE and the Department of Health (DoH), in order to properly assess the basis on which NHSS funding allocations have been determined.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Mary Lou McDonald (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Alan Kelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Manus Boyle (Senator), Seanad; Teresa Costello (Senator), Seanad; Linda Nelson Murray (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Garrett Ahern (Senator), Seanad; Joanne Collins (Senator), Seanad; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Christopher O’Sullivan (Minister of State), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Peadar Tóibín (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mike Kennelly (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To meet with these Ministers and TD's and to brief them on the nursing home sector and older persons care. Present NHI Insights Paper

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Mike Kennelly (Senator), Seanad

Intent: NHI highlighted that the most urgent policy gap is the absence of a national nursing home care policy. The frameworks are in place. What is needed now is action by government. NHI added that we are available to the Senators as a resource on matters related to care of our older population and welcome all further engagement and discussion.

Methods: LetterLobby day

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ryan O'Meara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: NHI highlighted to them all that it is essential the legislative amendment to the 50:50 Employment Permits rule is progressed and passed as a priority to ensure service continuity across the nursing home sector given the significant workforce pressures already experienced across the sector due to the constraints imposed by the 50:50 rule.

Methods: LetterEmail

Politician(s) lobbied: Derek Tierney (Secretary General), Department of Health

Intent: NHI meeting with the European Commission’s case team on 29 April 2026. The purpose of the letter is to inform the Department of the outcome of that meeting and to request an urgent meeting to discuss its implications for the Scheme. NHI requested a meeting with the Sec Gen, as a matter of urgency, to discuss how the Department proposes to address the issues identified by the Commission and to explore how the Scheme can be operated on a basis that is consistent with EU State aid and SGEI rules.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Danny Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eamon Scanlon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Maxwell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; William Aird (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Johnny Mythen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Darren O'Rourke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Natasha Newsome Drennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brendan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shane Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (Minister of State), Department of Health; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ciarán Ahern (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ruairí Ó Murchú (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: For Oireachtas members to be briefed on the issues facing the private and voluntary nursing home sector including workforce, underfunding, future provision and a lack of government policy on older person care in Ireland.

Methods: Meeting