Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

Lobbying Organisation Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

Date published 21 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details Engaged extensively on promised guidelines on the use of seclusion and restraint in Irish schools

Intended results The publication of rights-based, robust, child-centred guidelines on seclusion and restraint Reform of the terminology used to describe children in distress in school including the term "Assault Leave" in departmental circulars

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Adam Harris

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.

Informal communication (2-5)

Made contact with Secretary General

Phone call (2-5)

Spoke with Minister of State's Special Advisor

Meeting (1)

Met with Minister of State and Departmental officials

Email (2-5)

Wrote to Minister of State and Minister

Phone call (2-5)

Spoke to opposition deputies to express concern in relation to the guidelines upon publication

Informal communication (6-10)

Engaged with opposition deputies to express concern in relation to the guidelines upon publication

Meeting (1)

Attended a meeting with the Secretary General to express concern following publication of the guidelines

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.

Bernie McNally Secretary General (Department of Education)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Education)

John Kearney Chief Executive Officer (The National Council for Special Education)

Sinéad Gibney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Geoghegan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Ardagh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)

Paul Melia Special Advisor (Department of Education)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)