The Representative Church Body

Lobbying Organisation The Representative Church Body

Date published 21 May, 2018

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2018 to 30 Apr, 2018

Specific Details At the invitation of An Taoiseach, a delegation representing leadership of the Church of Ireland and also leadership of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches met with the Taoiseach and Ministers in Government Buildings, Dublin on 22 January 2018. Matters discussed included Religious Education in primary schools, provision of chaplaincy services in third level institutions, the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2016 and proposed legislation to amend the Equal Status Acts 2000-2015.

Intended results The delegation sought assurances that Religious Education should remain as part of the core curriculum in primary schools. The delegation sought assurances that smaller Churches will continue to have right of access to provide chaplaincy services to their members in third level institutions. The delegation sought assurances that children from Protestant families should not be denied an education in a school of their ethos as a result of any changes to legislation in relation to admissions or equality.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke (Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland), The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson (Archbishop of Dublin), the Revd Canon Gillian Wharton and Mr Ken Gibson (both Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod).

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.

Meeting (1)

The meeting took place at the invitation of An Taoiseach. A delegation representing leadership of the Church of Ireland in a joint group also involving the leadership of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches met with the Taoiseach and Ministers in Government Buildings, Dublin on 22 January 2018.

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.

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Richard Bruton Minister (Department of Education and Skills)

Charles Flanagan Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

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

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

Ciarán Cannon Minister of State for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Martin Fraser Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)

Brian Murphy Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)