Fórsa trade union

Lobbying Organisation Fórsa trade union

Date published 16 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Employment

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Various lobbying activities, including asking for Ministerial intervention, regarding the Fórsa safe staffing campaign and industrial dispute concerning Obserstown Children's Detention campus. Serious concerns around the decision to increase the certified capacity of the campus were also raised.

Intended results Increased staffing required in Oberstown Children Detention Campus and an end to the Fórsa strike action. Fórsa sought a commitment to a care-based model of delivery at Oberstown. A care model depends on having sufficient numbers of appropriately trained and experienced staff, and on being able to recruit and retain those staff. Fórsa also sought Ministerial intervention to resolve the then impasse in the industrial dispute.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Hazel Nolan, Fórsa National Secretary, Services & Enterprises Division; Deirdre O'Connell, Fórsa Assistant General Secretary with responsibility for Oberstown; Rachel Coyle, Fórsa Policy and Research Officer

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 (1)

Conversation between Hazel Nolan and Matt Carthy TD regarding the dispute. Conversation between Deirdre O'Connell and Matt Carthy TD.

Letter (2-5)

Letters to Minister Foley, from Deirdre O'Connell on 10-07-26; 14-08-26; 25-08-26 formally requesting that the Minister instruct her department Officials to meet with Fórsa and Oberstown Management. The second letter asked was the Department committed to a care-based model of delivery at Oberstown. Serious concerns around the decision to increase the certified capacity of the campus was raised. Ministerial intervention was sought. A third letter gave clarification on the issues.

Email (1)

Rachel Coyle had email correspondence with members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee on the 13th August 2026

Phone call (1)

Rachel Coyle had a follow up phone call from Matt Carthy TD to arrange for him and Deputy Mark Ward to meet members of the Oberstown dispute at their picket

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.

Matt Carthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aisling Dempsey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Charles Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ruairí Ó Murchú TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Daniel Ennis TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kiera Keogh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Emer Currie TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robert O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aidan Farrelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Catherine Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Mark Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)