Irish Lung Fibrosis Association

Lobbying Organisation Irish Lung Fibrosis Association

Date published 21 May, 2018

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2018 to 30 Apr, 2018

Specific Details ILFA wrote to Ministers Simon Harris and Finian McGrath after the budget regarding the lack of funding allocation for the Heart and Lung Translant unit at the Mater Hospital. Minister Simon Harris and Minister Finian McGrath responded to ILFA’s letters.

Intended results To seek assurances that beds will be allocated to the Heart and Lung Transplant Unit at the Mater Hospital, the operating theatre woud be opened and that it would be sufficiently resourced and protected with future investment.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Nicola Cassidy, ILFA Director

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 (1)

A letter was sent to Minister Simon Harris and Minister Finian McGrath to express disappointment of non allocated funding in the budget for beds and resources at the Heart and Lung Transplant Unit at the Mater Hospital.

Informal communication (1)

ILFA sent the Spring newsletter to Minister Simon Harris and Minister Finian McGrath in April. Also sent to MEP's Ms Martine Anderson and Mr James Nicholson

Meeting (1)

ILFA were invited to the National Launch of Organ Donation Awareness Week at the Mansion House on 27 March where ILFA were introduced to Minister Catherine Byrne, Minister for State at the department of Health with responsibie for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy, Dublin South Central. Nicola Cassidy, Eddie Cassidy and Gemma O'Dowd attended.

Email (2-5)

All Irish MEPs were emailed on behalf of Liam Galvin ILFA Director to request a meeting to discuss an oral question with commission debate on Rare disease/IPF. and emails were also exchanged with offices of Marion Harkin, Brian Crowley, Maread McGuiness.

Meeting (2-5)

Liam Galvin ILFA Director, held meetings in Brussels at parliament with Mairead McGuiness's Senior Assistant, Marion Harkin MEP and her Senior Assistant regarding a question with commission debate on Rare disease/IPF

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.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Catherine Byrne Minister of State (Department of Health)

Finian McGrath Minister of State (Department of Health)

Brian Crowley MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Hayes MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Liadh Ní Riada MEP (European Parliament)

Luke "Ming" Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Mairead McGuinness MEP (European Parliament)

Marian Harkin MEP (European Parliament)

Matt Carthy MEP (European Parliament)

Nessa Childers MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Tom McEllistrim Councillor (Kerry County Council)