Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Lobbying Organisation Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

Date published 07 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details To call on the Political Party leaders to support reform and investment in public services, particularly to support those marginalised and struggling to meet the cost of living; support the provision of good jobs, alongside education, training, guidance and a supportive social welfare system; to promote social cohesion and access to employment for those furthest from the labour market; future-proof Ireland’s capacity to respond to emerging global challenges.

Intended results To seek inclusion of key priorities in new Programme for Government: sustained investment in public services; address systemic barriers in the labour market; introduce benchmarking of social welfare rates to lift people above poverty line, provide them with Minimum Essential Standard of Living; establish a pro-active and informative ‘Social Welfare Health Check’; introduce socio-economic status ground; properly resource youth groups, community organisations, community and adult education.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Bríd O'Brien, INOU Director

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

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

The economics term ‘full employment’ masks unemployment challenges facing many people and the low labour participation rates of specific groups. We see unacceptable levels of deprivation, 13.6% of people are at risk of poverty, social welfare rates fail to meet the standards needed for people to live with dignity. The incoming Government must protect the social safety net, invest in addressing social inequalities and improve access to sustained education and employment opportunities.

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.

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Boyd Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Harris An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Micheál Martin Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peadar Tóibín TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)