Irish Episcopal Conference

Lobbying Organisation Irish Episcopal Conference

Date published 16 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Asking Minister Richmond to raise the potential negative impacts of the House and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 on Irish people returning home and in need of social housing, particularly people returning in crisis. Asking Minister Richmond to convene a special meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on Irish Abroad to discuss this matter. NB: this lobbying was carried out by CIDSP on behalf of themselves, ICPO and Safe Home.

Intended results To ensure that safeguards are put in place to ensure returning Irish citizens would have access to social housing, in particular emergency housing.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ms Leslie Alcock, Coordinator, Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) as part of a group lobbying undertaken by Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project (CIDSP) on behalf of themselves and including ICPO and Safe Home.

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.

Letter (2-5)

Two letters were sent to Minister Neale Richmond on the 10 June 2026 and 29 June 2026 on behalf of the three organisations - CIDSP, Safe Home and Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO).

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.

Neale Richmond Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)