Sightsavers Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Sightsavers Ireland

Date published 20 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Foreign Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details In 2018, Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and in December 2020 it will have its first vote in the elections for members of the committee that oversees this treaty. The elections will take place at the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD in New York, and Feargal O'Connell is seeking Deputy O'Callaghan's support in asking that votes in the election to improve the diversity and gender balance on the committee.

Intended results For Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, and Minister for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte TD to cast votes at the UN on the membership of the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) committee in December to ensure that women, people with diverse disability types and people from low and middle income countries are fairly represented.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Feargal O'Connell

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)

Jim O'Callaghan (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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.

Email (2-5)

Email sent to TD O'Callaghan on November 27, 2020, requesting that he writes to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, and Minister for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte TD, requesting that Ireland casts its votes in December to ensure that women, people with diverse disability types and people from low and middle income countries are fairly represented. Two email responses were received from Jim O'Callaghan, November 30 and December 7, confirming his support and actions.

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.

Jim O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)