Irish Refugee Council

Lobbying Organisation Irish Refugee Council

Date published 10 Aug, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Letter setting out barriers to further and higher education for international protection applicants and give recommendations as to how those barriers can be removed

Intended results Stamp 4 permission to remain that is acceptable to SUSI and desist from issuing stamp 4 as an ‘exceptional' or accept ‘exceptional’ Stamp 4 permission to remain where the person has come through the International Protection process. Reject the categorisation of International Protection Applicants as International students. SUSI – Applicant Class – the category does not exist to enable a student to be under 23 and independent as per the current SUSI regulations.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Nick Henderson

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)

One letter to Minister McEntee and Minister Harris sent on 3 August and 30 May respectively.

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.

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)