Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Fitzpatrick (Senator), Seanad; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kevin Dillon (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kathleen Funchion (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament
Intent: We hope to see cross party commitment to working towards ending homelessness by 2030 and have set out a number of proposal or recommendation that will support this aim. https://www.simon.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SCI-GE-Manifesto.pdf
Methods: MeetingEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Meeting
We held a number of meetings with elected official and party policy personnel to outline in more detail the
Event / Reception
We held a public panel events as part of our Simon Week Seminars in Cork and Dublin.
Politician(s) lobbied: Victor Boyhan (Senator), Seanad
Intent: Legislative change that would see the development of an independent appeals system.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
We are invited to speak at the Oireachtas Committee on Housing to present on the pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 on the 30th May. In that meeting we advocated for an independent appeals mechanism for access to social housing. Following this meeting we had discussion with Senator Boyhan. Senator Boylan raised the this as a Commencement Matter CM_428/24 in the Seanad.
Politician(s) lobbied: Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kevin Dillon (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Mary Fitzpatrick (Senator), Seanad; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Victor Boyhan (Senator), Seanad; Gerard Craughwell (Senator), Seanad; Richard Bruton (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Edel Hackett (Special Adviser), Department of Environment, Climate and Communications
Intent: We intended to seek the support of parties for the implementation of those proposals
Methods: Lobby dayMeetingEmail
Details by Method
Lobby day
Along with a number of colleagues working on the issue of homelessness we held a lobbing day in Buswells Hotels.
Meeting
At the meetings we presented the budget asks set out in our document.
Email
The prebudget submission document was emailed to members of the Oireachtas Housing Committee. Senior officials in all the relevant Departments and to the Ministers and Ministers of State. Insending this email we also sought a meeting to discuss same.
Politician(s) lobbied: Steven Matthews (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Francis Noel Duffy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Flaherty (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Thomas Gould (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Emer Higgins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Victor Boyhan (Senator), Seanad; John Cummins (Senator), Seanad; Mary Fitzpatrick (Senator), Seanad; Rebecca Moynihan (Senator), Seanad; Mary Seery Kearney (Senator), Seanad
Intent: We sought to have the Committee of Housing give consideration to the practical and administrative issues that would be created if the Habitual Residency condition was included in primary legislation as set out in the heads of Bill presented to the Committee.
Methods: Submission
Details by Method
Submission
The fist submission was emailed to the Chair of the Committee cc'ing all committee members on the 9/4/24. A joint opening statement setting out out concerns was delivered at the invitation of the committee in person 23/4/24
Politician(s) lobbied: Leo Varadkar (Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Roderic O'Gorman (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Mary Hayes (Director of Services or Equivalent), Dublin City Council
Intent: More directive and collective action by government to address the conditions that IP applicants were being forced to live in.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Letter agreed by a group of national CEO's of Homeless Organisations to raise our collective concern that the conditions that IP applications were being forced to live in.
Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Kevin Dillon (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Secure progress on the Government commitment to hold a referendum
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Letter written by Home for Good colleagues and submitted by SCI as the secretariat. The letter raised with the Minister the fact that he had received the report from the housing commission and this should now be progressed as a priority. Sent 19th January 2024
Politician(s) lobbied: David Kelly (Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Brief the Assistant Sec on the needs and policy agenda of the Simon Communities
Methods: Virtual Meeting
Details by Method
Virtual Meeting
A broad discussion covering:-Simon Homeless prevention Bill Funding for Homeless services Right to Housing and possibility of referendum (Acknowledge that this is a politically focused issue at that time so it was a short discussion)
Politician(s) lobbied: Steven Matthews (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mary Fitzpatrick (Senator), Seanad; Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kevin Dillon (Adviser to Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Francis Noel Duffy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Progress on moving the proposed wording developed by Home for Good forward and understanding progress made through the Housing Commission
Methods: Phone callMeeting
Details by Method
Phone call
Arranged calls with opposition spokespersons to discuss the opportunities for progress on the right to housing once the housing committee report had passed through cabinet.
Meeting
Met with Senators and TD's (members of the Housing Committee) to discuss the opportunities for progress on the right to housing once the housing committee report had passed through cabinet.
Phone call
Spoke to Minister for Housing senior adviser to discuss the progress of the housing commission.
Politician(s) lobbied: Kevin Dillon (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Mary Hayes (Director of Services or Equivalent), Dublin City Council
Intent: Sought to ensure that the Simon Communities of Ireland would have an opportunity to engage on behalf of our membership.
Methods: Phone callEmail
Details by Method
Phone call
Call to senior officials to see if the proposed review had seen any progress.
Email
Email Correspondence with DRHE head to understand the current status of the Terms of reference of the review and any progress.
Politician(s) lobbied: Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Francis Noel Duffy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mary Fitzpatrick (Senator), Seanad; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: We encouraged members of the Oireachtas with an interest in housing to meet with a group of NGO's committed to the Right to Housing
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Held a meeting to which some elected members supportive of the Right to Housing were invited to meeting with NGO's.
