Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Budget 2024

Intended results Increased allocation of funding for disability within Budget 2024

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Emer Begley, Fleachta Phelan, John Dolan, Ríona Morris

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Oireachtas Members Letter and enclosed DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2024 sent to all Oireachtas members via post on 12/07/23

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2024 "Time for Action - Investing in Disabled People" (available on DFI website, under the publications section, published 29/06)

Submission (1)

DFI and 29 other social, environmental and voluntary organisations issued a Joint Statement on 12/06/23 on Budget 2024 and Energy Poverty ahead of the National Economic Dialogue. The statement endorses DFI's Cost of Disability ask. Link to statement: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/news/cross-section-of-ngos-urge-government-to-tackle-cold-homes-a/

Social Media (1)

1 Tweet to promote the Energy Poverty statement

Event / Reception (1)

National Economic Dialogue on 12/06/23

Event / Reception (1)

Annual Department of Social Protection Pre-Budget Forum on 19/07/23 Highlighted the disproportionately high poverty rates, low employment rates, and increasingly urgent need to address the Cost of Disability. Participated in the 'Disability and Caring' workshop.

Email (2-5)

1 email sent on 22/08/23 to all members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection attaching DFI's Department of Social Protection Pre-Budget Submission and seeking their support on our asks. Also sent to 3 Social Protection Spokespersons of different parties who are not members of the Committee (Senator Catherine Ardagh, Paul McAuliffe TD, Sean Sherlock TD)

Letter (6-10)

4 Letters and enclosed DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2024 sent to Ministers on 10/07/23 (Roderic O'Gorman, Stephen Donnelly, Heather Humphreys and Darragh O'Brien) 1 Letter and enclosed DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2024 sent to Minister Anne Rabbitte on 10/07/23 3 Letters and enclosed DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2024 sent via email on 19/07/23 to the three Party Leaders in Government (Minister Eamon Ryan, Tánaiste Micheal Martin, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar)

Letter (2-5)

Letter and enclosed DFI Pre-Budget Submission 2024 sent via email to all members of the following Oireachtas Committees: - Committee on Disability Matters - Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration - Committee on Health - Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands - Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Meeting (6-10)

Meetings held with: 28/06/23 - Pauline Tully TD 24/07/23 - Grainne Weld, Special Advisor to Tánaiste 25/07/23 - Pauric McPhilips, Special Advisor to Minister Humphreys 25/07/23 - Senator Tom Clonan 26/07/23 - Brid Murphy, Special Advisor to Taoiseach 27/07/23 - Noel Byrne, Special Advisor to Minister Rabbitte 02/08/23 - Eoin Wilson, Special Advisor to Minister O'Gorman 02/08/23 - Niamh Allen, Special Advisor to Minister Ryan 21/08/23 - Colm O'Conaill, Assistant Secretary DCEDIY

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Gráinne Weld Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Pauric McPhillips Special Adviser (Department of Social Protection)

Bríd Murphy Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Noel Byrne Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Eoin Wilson Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Colm Ó Conaill Assistant Secretary General (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Niamh Allen Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)