Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 21 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Emergency Winter Payment Campaign

Intended results Funding for an Emergency Winter Payment for people with disabilities

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Emer Begley, Fleachta Phelan

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? 1 Mass mailout sent on 06/02/26 - 'Save the Date' sent to member organisations, the C&V Pillar, National Access for All Groups and Public Participation Networks. Inviting people to "Save the date for a major national protest led by the Disability Federation of Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association, and Access for All Ireland [...] Please mark your calendars and bring your banners. We need disabled people, families, allies and anyone interested in equality to make our voices heard."

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Event / Reception (2-5)

1 Briefing event held in the AV Room, Leinster House on 14/01/26 by DFI, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Access for All Ireland. March held with many activists and community members in Dublin on 28/02/26.

Letter (6-10)

5 Letters co-signed by Emer Begley, Joan Carthy (IWA) and Bernard Mulvaney (Access for All Ireland) sent on - 20/01/26 to: - Taoiseach Micheál Martin - Deputy Micheál Carrigy - Deputy Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher 19/03/26 to: - Minister Jack Chambers 30/04/26 to: - Minister of State Emer Higgins 1 Letter forwarded by An Taoiseach's office on 21/01/26 to: - Minister of State Jerry Buttimer

Meeting (2-5)

1 Meeting held on 21/01/26 by Emer Begley, Joan Carthy (IWA), and Bernard Mulvaney (Access for All Ireland) with Minister of State Emer Higgins. 1 Meeting held on 02/04/26 by Fleachta Phelan, Joan Carthy (IWA), and Bernard Mulvaney (Access for All Ireland) with Louise O'Reilly TD and her PA Freya Coogan.

Informal communication (1)

Discussions regarding the Emergency Winter Payment for People with Disabilities held at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis on 25/04/26 with: - Deputy Louise O'Reilly - Deputy Eoin Ó Broin - Deputy Thomas Gould - Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh - Sinead O'Reilly

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.

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Micheál Carrigy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jerry Buttimer Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Emer Higgins Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Eoin Ó Broin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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