National Infertility Support and Information Group

Lobbying Organisation National Infertility Support and Information Group

Date published 21 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details NISIG is the only Irish charity supporting and advocating on behalf of those experiencing fertility issues. One of our primary aims is to ensure that equality is secured, and the human rights of children conceived using AHR, their intended parents and families are protected and advanced in legislation and policy, in addition to advocating for the introduction of an equitable & fair system of public funding.

Intended results NISIG contacted a number of DPO’s over the last quarter, regarding the upcoming Assisted Human Reproduction Legislation, specifically addressing the need for an equitable system of publicly funded for fertility treatment and the speed at which public funding will be implemented.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity CAITRÍONA FITZPATRICK

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)

CAITRÍONA FITZPATRICK (Former DPO) Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)

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 (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to Senator Catherine Ardagh for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to Senator Mary Seery Kearney for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to MEP Frances Fitzgerald for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to MEP Barry Andrews for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to TD Neale Richmond for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to Minister Roderic O'Gorman for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Holly Cairns as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Neale Richmond as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Minister Stephen Donnelly as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation. NISIG also asked r stakeholders such as ourselves, be consulted in relation to the planned rollout of public funding of IVF in September 2023.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Neasa Hourigan as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Catherine Ardagh to highlight our concerns regarding the Private Members Bill (PMB), the purpose of which was to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known as the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee, that was debated at Second Stage in the Seanad in April.

Phone call (1)

Caitriona Fitzpatrick (NISIG Chair) had a phone call with Senator Catherine Ardagh to highlight our concerns regarding the Private Members Bill (PMB), the purpose of which was to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known as the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee, that was debated at Second Stage in the Seanad in April.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed an Invite to TD Ivana Bacik for the in person launch of our Children's Donor Storybook for Solo Mums in March 2023, which took place in the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Fiona O'Loughlin to highlight our concerns regarding the Private Members Bill (PMB), the purpose of which was to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known as the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee, that was debated at Second Stage in the Seanad in April.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Brid Smith as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Senator Tim Lombard as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed Alan Dillon TD as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

Email (1)

NISIG emailed TD Ivana Bacik as part of our remit as a representative group to outline members concerns relating to a number of areas in the upcoming AHR legislation particularly in relation to the introduction of an equitable system of publicly funded fertility treatment throughout Ireland and the speed of its implementation.

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 Ardagh Senator (Seanad)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Neale Richmond TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frances Fitzgerald MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Dillon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Bríd Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)