Epilepsy Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Epilepsy Ireland

Date published 19 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Seeking that provision be made for students with epilepsy who have a seizure during their exams to have access to a deferred sitting of the Leaving Cert exams

Intended results For provision to be made for the aforementioned situation in the 2023 rules on deferred leaving cert sittings.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paddy McGeoghegan, Advocacy & Communications Manager

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Encouraged EI supporters to contact their local TD or Senator in support of our campaign.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Met with Minister for Education to discuss this issue and seek her support

Meeting (1)

Met with State Exams Commission to discuss this issue and to urge that they make the necessary changes to the deferred exam criteria.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

Met office of Deputy Gary Gannon and Deputy Patrick Costello to discuss this issue in further detail and seeking that they raise in Dáil and highlight need to have this issue addressed.

Email (21-30)

Following up with the SEC & Minister regarding this issue; following up with supportive TDs and Senators and seeking to brief them on same and keeping them informed on the issue; informing supportive TDs and Senators that the issue has been resolved.

Informal communication (1)

Met Senator Fiona O'Loughlin unexpectantly in person and discussed this campaign and forwarded further information to her on same.

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.

Fiona O'Loughlin Senator (Seanad)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)

Andrea Feeney Chief Executive Officer (The State Examinations Commission)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister of State (Department of Finance)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Sorca Clarke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)