Samaritans Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Samaritans Ireland

Date published 19 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Communications

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details Online Safety and Media Regulations General Scheme

Intended results Provide input on specific legislative wording, in particular around content which promotes suicide and self harm and their impacts on online safety

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Louise Hamra

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.

Submission (1)

Submission to Catherine Martin/ attn of Triona Quill and Ciaran Shanely around key wording and recommendations for Online Safety legislation

Letter (1)

Letter to Taoiseach following PQ in Dail aroun explicit inclusion of support measures for any persons who review, categorise, edit, and/or remove harmful or potentially harmful content as a matter to be audited by the regulator in the legislation

Email (11-20)

Emails to members of JOC on TCASM following publication of their findings/report and requesting meetings to further discuss online safety and mental health pending draft legislation

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.

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Malcolm Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Shane Cassells Senator (Seanad)

Micheál Carrigy Senator (Seanad)

Annie Hoey Senator (Seanad)

Ciaran Cannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter Fitzpatrick TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Christopher O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Niamh Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)