National Infertility Support and Information Group

Lobbying Organisation National Infertility Support and Information Group

Date published 20 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details NISIG emailed members of the Oireachtas our 2026 pre-budget submission. Key asks in the pre-budget submission included funding our NISIG Helpline, a request for a wider and more sufficiently funded public funded IVF scheme. Also, that eligibility and criteria be broad, equitable, inclusive and reflective of those who seek infertility treatment. Also, that donor conception must be ready to roll out in conjunction with the establishment of the new Regulatory Authority

Intended results To secure future funding for the NISIG Helpline, to maintain this crucial support for those in need of assistance particularly at times of great emotional stress. NISIG are calling for a wider and more sufficiently funded public funding system for IVF including significantly increased funding for the fertility hubs nationwide NISIG asks that eligibility and criteria for public funding for IVF are broad, equitable, inclusive and reflective of those who seek infertility treatment. This includes a review of the current criteria based on data from the last 2 years, along with areas such as funding for patients requiring PGT-M and PGT-SR, and additional cycles of IVF for couples with no children. Donor conception must be ready to roll out in conjunction with the establishment of the new Regulatory Authority. There is no provision for specific support by the State health services for those going through fertility treatment and NISIG receives no Government funding for the vital support services we provide. This is not a sustainable model for us to operate within and severely curtails our ability to provide this much needed service. NISIG also believes it is key to continue to allow people continue to reclaim tax benefit on any privately undertaken fertility treatments in Ireland until such time as they can obtain them through the public health system. NISIG asks that the drug prescription medical card be kept in place as a fixed long-term measure to help alleviate the significant cost of prescriptions associated with AHR treatment. NISIG would like to see fertility issues be part of everyday conversation. NISIG call on the Government to mandate the new AHRRA (Regulatory Authority) to roll out a fertility awareness campaign in 2026 to increase public knowledge.

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 Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)

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)

NISIG emailed (with attached letter) members of the Oireachtas our 2026 pre-budget submission. Key asks included securing future funding for the NISIG Helpline. Also, a request for a wider and more sufficiently funded public funded IVF scheme and that eligibility and criteria be broad, equitable, inclusive and reflective of those who seek infertility treatment. Also, that donor conception must be ready to roll out in conjunction with the establishment of the new Regulatory Authority

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.

Pádraig Rice TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Roche TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marie Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peadar Tóibín TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Transport)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)

James Browne Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Jim O'Callaghan Minister (Department of Justice)

Mary Butler Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Martin Heydon Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Education)

Manus Boyle Senator (Seanad)

Maria Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Tom Clonan Senator (Seanad)

Teresa Costello Senator (Seanad)

Nicole Ryan Senator (Seanad)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)