National Infertility Support and Information Group

Lobbying Organisation National Infertility Support and Information Group

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details NISIG is the only Irish charity supporting and advocating on behalf of those experiencing fertility issues. One of our primary aims is to ensure that equality is secured, and the human rights of children conceived using AHR, their intended parents and families are protected and advanced in legislation and policy, in addition to advocating for the introduction of an equitable & fair system of public funding.

Intended results NISIG submitted pre budget submission for 2025, highlighting the need to expand the eligibility criteria for the publicly funded IVF scheme to be more inclusive to include Donor. Also to increase the resourcing for the fertility hubs to mitigate against delays in treating patients in a time sensitive manner. NISIG contacted key DPO's to personally thank them for their work on and support for the first comprehensive AHR legislation regulating fertility treatment in Ireland, passed in June 2024.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Caitriona Fitzpatrick

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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Caitriona Fitzpatrick (Former DPO) Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members NISIG emailed (with attached letter) members of the Oireachtas our 2025 pre-budget submission. Two key asks in the pre-budget submission included a request that the eligibility criteria in relation to public funding for IVF be expanded to be more inclusive to meet the demand for treatment. In addition, that the resourcing in relation to fertility hubs be increased to ensure that for those receiving treatment, it is provided in a time sensitive and planned process, with no delays for the patient.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Marie Sherlock asking her to highlight some issues during the Seanad debate on the AHR Legislation regarding the public funding for IVF phase one issues, the timeline for the expansion of public funding to incorporate donor and the review of the age criteria, and also to highlight the longer waiting times in relation to some of the fertility hubs.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Minister Stephen Donnelly, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his work on and support for the introduction of the first comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Neasa Hourigan, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Ivana Bacik, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Colm Burke, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Cathal Crowe, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Sean Crowe, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Bernard Durkan, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD David Cullinane, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Gino Kenny, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Roisin Shortall, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Alan Dillon, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Neale Richmond, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Catherine Ardagh, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Tim Lombard, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Garrett Ahern, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Annie Hoey, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Sean Kyne, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Lisa Chambers, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed MEP Barry Andrews, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed MEP Billy Kellegher, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Brid Smith, as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank her for her support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Paul Murphy as part of our remit as a representative group, to personally thank him for his support for the introduction of comprehensive AHR legislation regulating the fertility landscape in Ireland, which was passed in June 2024.

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.

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Marie Sherlock Senator (Seanad)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bernard Durkan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gino Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Ardagh Senator (Seanad)

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Garrett Ahern Senator (Seanad)

Lorraine Clifford-Lee Senator (Seanad)

Annie Hoey Senator (Seanad)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Lisa Chambers Senator (Seanad)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Paul Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neale Richmond TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bríd Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)