Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 19 Jan, 2018

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Sep, 2017 to 31 Dec, 2017

Specific Details DFI's Pre-Budget Submission 2018

Intended results 1. Increase Disability Allowance by €20 a week to provide an adequate minimum income that guards against poverty at a cost of €133m. This as an interim measure; DFI also recommends further increases in DA over the next few years to offset the decreased purchasing power of people with disabilities, and to contribute to the extra costs of living with a disability. 2. Grant Medical Cards based on medical need, not income. 3. Re-introduce the Telephone Allowance as part of the Household Benefits P

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity John Dolan, Allen Dunne, Joan O'Connor, Anne Winslow, Áine O'Sullivan and Fiona O'Donovan

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)

John Dolan (Former DPO) Senator (Seanad)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Yes. Allen Dunne emailed all DFI Members calling on them to contact certain TDs, stating that 'These TD’s need to hear directly from people with disabilities and their families in their own constituencies about the effects that crumbling disability services are having. Please do whatever you can to support direct contact with these TD’s: 1. Leo Varadkar (An Taoiseach) – Dublin West 2. Paschal Donohoe (Minister for Finance) – Dublin Central 3. Simon Harris (Minister for Health) - Wicklow 4. Regina Doherty (Minister for Social Protection) - Meath 5. Noel Rock – Dublin North West 6. Kate O’Connell – Dublin Bay South 7. Dara Murphy – Cork North Central 8. Alan Farrell – Dublin Fingal 9. John Deasy – Waterford 10. Martin Heydon – Kildare South 11. Tom Neville – Limerick County 12. Fergus O’Dowd – Louth 13. Colm Brophy – Dublin South West 14. Josepha Madigan – Dublin Rathdown 15. Maria Bailey – Dun Laoghaire 16. Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy – Offaly 17. Pat Deering – Carlow/Kilkenny 18. Hil

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members John Dolan re-sent DFI Pre-Budget Submission to all TDs and Senators.

Social Media All Oireachtas Members Pre-Budget Submission posted on DFI website and social media platforms.

Letter All Oireachtas Members Amongst matters raised by Senator Dolan in relation to Budget 2018 were DFI asks in relation to the budget were included in the following communications by Senator Dolan: - Senator Dolan wrote to all Ministers and Ministers of State calling for a disability inclusive budget - Senator Dolan sent written communication to all party leaders requesting meeting about pre-budget asks

Email All Oireachtas Members John Amongst matters raised by Senator Dolan in relation to Budget 2018 were DFI asks in relation to the budget were included in the following communications by Senator Dolan: Senator Dolan issued a press release in response to Budget 2018 advocating to An Taoiseach and the Government for targetted funding for people with disabilities.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

DFI Press release sent to Senator John Dolan

Letter (6-10)

Amongst matters raised by Senator Dolan in relation to Budget 2018 were DFI asks in relation to the budget were included in the following communications by Senator Dolan: - Senator John Dolan wrote twice to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, making some reference to DFI pre-budget submissions - Senator Dolan sent one letter via email and post to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, TD and cc'd to Minister Paschal Donohoe, TD and Minister of State Finian McGrath, TD regarding budget 2018 remarks made in Leaders Questions in the Dail. - Senator Dolan sent one letter via email and post to Deputy Micheál Martin, TD and cc'd to Deputy Michael McGrath, TD and Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, TD regarding budget 2018 remarks made in Leaders Questions in the Dail.

Email (6-10)

Amongst matters raised by Senator Dolan in relation to Budget 2018 were DFI asks in relation to the budget were included in the following communications by Senator Dolan: - Senator Dolan requested meeting over email and phone with Minister Eoghan Murphy and/or his special advisor Jack O'Donnell - Senator Dolan sent one letter via email and post to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, TD and cc'd to Minister Paschal Donohoe, TD and Minister of State Finian McGrath, TD regarding budget 2018 remarks made in Leaders Questions in the Dail. - Senator Dolan sent one letter via email and post to Deputy Micheál Martin, TD and cc'd to Deputy Michael McGrath, TD and Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, TD regarding budget 2018 remarks made in Leaders Questions in the Dail.

Meeting (6-10)

Amongst matters raised by Senator Dolan in relation to Budget 2018 were DFI asks in relation to the budget were included in the following communications by Senator Dolan: - Senator Dolan met with Minister Shane Ross TD & Minister of State Finian McGrath TD - Senator Dolan met with Brendan Howlin TD - Senator Dolan met with Micheál Martin TD - Senator Dolan met with Regina Doherty TD - Senator Dolan met with Darragh Calleary TD

Phone call (2-5)

Email (11-20)

Joan O'Connor and Anne Winslow sent an email via a DFI adminsitrator to the disability and finance spokespersons and advisors of all political parties and groups inviting them to meet and discuss DFI's pr-budget submissions. Included some detail of the submissions. Invited were: Declan Ryan - party rep, Conor Joy - party rep, Kathleen Lynch - party rep And the following Oireachtas Members: Minister Regina Doherty TD, Deputy Cathal McCann, Deputy Catherine Murphy, Deputy Roisin Shorthall, Deputy Caoimghín Ó Caoláin, Deputy Gino Kenny, Deputy Mick Barry, Deputy Ruth Coppinger, Deputy Paul Murphy, Deputy Michael McGrath, Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, Senator Martin Conway, Senator Maire Devine, No meetings resulted.

Informal communication (1)

John Dolan, CEO spoke at Dept Finance C&V Pillar Meeting with Minister Paschal Donohoe

Meeting (1)

Áine O'Sullivan Met with Deputy Micheál Martin

Social Media (1)

Fiona O'Donovan tweeted DFI's asks specific to Housing at the Rebuilding Ireland account

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.

Eoghan Murphy Minister (Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government)

Micheál Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Jack O'Donnell Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Regina Doherty Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)

Brendan Howlin Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Shane Ross Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Finian McGrath Minister of State (Department of Health)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ruth Coppinger TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Barry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gino Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Máire Devine Senator (Seanad)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Shortall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Murphy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cathal McCann Special Advisor (Department of Social Protection)

Martin Conway Senator (Seanad)