UNICEF Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: John Lahart (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Noonan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Duncan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathy Bennett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shay Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ken O'Flynn (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seán Ó Fearghaíl (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To urge public representatives to support children in the Middle East by calling for the protection of children and civilian infrastructure, urgent de-escalation and adherence to international humanitarian law and timely and flexible humanitarian funding to reach children quickly.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: Secure representation from Department of Children at Global Caregiver Forum in Spain, January 2026.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Neale Richmond (Minister of State), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Securing a meeting with UNICEF Global Deputy Director Kitty van der Heijden to discuss humanitarian reset and emergency priorities.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Barry Andrews (MEP), European Parliament; Lynn Boylan (MEP), European Parliament; Thomas Byrne (Minister of State), Department of the Taoiseach; Duncan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Lahart (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathy Bennett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shay Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ken O'Flynn (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seán Ó Fearghaíl (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To urge the government to advocate for diplomatic action to prevent famine and protect vulnerable populations, especially children in Gaza.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Malcolm Noonan (Senator), Seanad; Janet Horner (Councillor), Dublin City Council; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seán Ó Fearghaíl (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Fiona O'Loughlin (Senator), Seanad; Duncan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Lahart (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Frances Black (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To urge politicians to use their voice and influence to support unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and to advocate for diplomatic action to prevent famine and protect vulnerable populations.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To advocate for the protection and continuation of Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, and to reinforce the importance of sustained funding for global humanitarian efforts.

Methods: Informal communication

Politician(s) lobbied: Neale Richmond (Minister of State), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: To encourage ongoing engagement and support from the Irish Government for UNICEF’s global humanitarian and development work, particularly in crisis-affected regions and to seek a meeting to discuss Ireland's role in these efforts.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: To advocate for continued prioritisation of children's rights, disability inclusion, and equality in the Minister’s agenda, and to encourage future engagement with UNICEF Ireland on these issues.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Education

Intent: To advocate for continued prioritisation of child rights education and inclusion and equality in the Minister’s agenda, and to encourage future engagement with UNICEF Ireland on these issues.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Aoife MacEvilly (Commissioner), Coimisiún na Meán

Intent: For Coimisiún na Meán to strengthen regulations to: promote breastfeeding as the optimal infant nutrition standard by closing loopholes that allow indirect promotion of formulas; introduce robust digital marketing regulations to curb targeted advertising of breast-milk substitutes (BMS). Strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability and penalise non-compliance; These actions would align Ireland's policies with international best practices and safeguard public health.

Methods: Submission