Overwatch Report

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Email ahead of Spring Legislative Programme Publication regarding Priority Publication of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 202X/2024

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Email sent about the mental health priorities for the upcoming elections

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Briefing on Youth Mental Health sent to all Deputies ahead of Sinn Fein's Private Members Bill on the Regulation of CAMHS on 27th Feb 2024. The text of the Bill, Explanatory Memo and Introduction Speech are available in the following links: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2023/83/ & https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2023/83/?tab=bill-text

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'One email sent to all TDs on 27/02/2024'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Letter sent to Minister Harris via email, congratulating him on his appointment as leader of Fine Gael and requesting that he prioritise the reform of the Mental Health Act, 2001

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': '1 email sent to all Fine Gael Senators on 04/04/2024'} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': '1 email sent to all Fine Gael Councillors on 04/04/2024'} {'name': 'Email All MEPs', 'role': '1 email sent to all Fine Gael MEPs on 04/04/2024'} {'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': '1 Email sent to all Fine Gael TDs on 04/04/2024'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Mental Health Reform held a meeting with policy representative from Labour and Senator Annie Hoey about the mental health priorities for the upcoming elections.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Annie Hoey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Meeting with Sinn Fein re mental health priorities ahead of their Private Members Bill that day. The text of the Bill, Explanatory Memo and Introduction Speech are available in the following links: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2023/83/ & https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2023/83/?tab=bill-text

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Minister Joe O'Brien attended Carmichael Centre Meet and Greet session where MHR had a stand and spoke briefly to the Minister and requested a follow up meeting on issues relating to mental health and Ireland's review under ICESCR

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Mental Health Priorities for manifesto

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamonn Murphy', 'role': 'Director (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Inclusion of mental health improvements at local authority level

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Chris Pender', 'role': 'Councillor (Kildare County Council)'} {'name': 'Nuala Killeen', 'role': 'Councillor (Kildare County Council)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Budgetary matters] Resourcing for mental health services and supports and the importance of prioritising this in manifesto and election work

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Cian O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Sinn Féin had a consultation document on health and social care priorities and requested submissions on the content.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] The inclusion of the Mental Health Amendment Bill on the legislative programme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Annie Hoey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Role of disabled persons organisations and self-advocacy in providing equal opportunities under UNCRPD implementation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Moynihan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Dessie Ellis', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Frank Feighan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 7 more

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Reform of the Mental Health Act 2001

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Information on suicide prevention training provided by a member organisation and information on MHR's mental health and human rights in the workplace training.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Daithí De Róiste', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Health Oireachtas Committee hearing on CAMHS and the reform of the Mental Health Act

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Frances Black', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Special sitting of the Disability Matters Committee on the UNCRPD and self-advocacy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Frances Black', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Invite to the online launch of the MHR prison research report.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': '1 mass email sent to all Oireachtas members on 04/03/2024'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Email conversation with the staff in the Minister for Justice's Office regarding pre-record launch speech for our prisons report

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Invite to the Innovation Showcase

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'One email sent to all Oireachtas Members on 09/05/2024'} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': '1 email sent to all Dublin Councillors - Dublin City Council, Fingal, South Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown on 09/05/2024'}

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Reform of the Mental Health Act and disability group rights.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ged Nash', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Wall', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 1 more

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] MHR monitors the recommendations in Sharing the Vision that are relevant to our members and increased funding is required for the policy's progression. MHR advocated for the progression of the Draft Bill to reform the 2001 Mental Health Act from priority drafting to priority publication list for the Spring/Summer 2024 legislative programme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Elisa O'Donovan", 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 5 more

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Signature to an open letter to the government party leaders calling for a Health Impact Assessment of the Sale of Alcohol Bill. Open Letter: An urgent call for this government to fully assess the implications of increased alcohol availability; Alcohol Action Ireland (https://alcoholireland.ie/open-letter-an-urgent-call-for-this-government-to-fully-assess-the-implications-of-increased-alcohol-availability/)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Fiona Coyle signed a letter which was circulated to all Oireachtas Members'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Communicate MHR's Pre-Budget Submission 2025 priorities, with an invitation to a 'Meet & Greet' with MHR, MHR Member organisations and people with lived experience of mental health difficulties on Wednesday 18th September in LH 2000 and with an initial work in progress briefing on MHR's work on a research project with the London School of Economics

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Charlotte Simpson', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Susan Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'} + 1 more

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Communicate MHR's Pre-Budget Submission 2025, and with an invitation to a Language Briefing and 'Meet & Greet' with MHR, MHR Member organisations and people with lived experience of mental health difficulties on Wednesday 18th September in LH 2000

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': "Invite email sent on 30th July 2024 TDs inviting them to MHR's Pre-Budget Submission (PBS) 2025 and the Meet & Greet on 18th Sept"} {'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': "Invite email sent on 30th July 2024 to all Senators inviting them to MHR's Pre-Budget Submission (PBS) 2025 and the Meet & Greet on 18th Sept"} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': "Invite email sent on 30th July 2024 to all Councillors inviting them to MHR's Pre-Budget Submission (PBS)2025"} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'All TDs, Sentaors and Ministers sent an email on the 13th Aug 2024 inviting them to the 30 min Language Briefing and Meet & Greet as part of PBS'} {'name': "Peter O'Donoghue", 'role': 'Councillor (Cork County Council)'}

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Health] Meeting with Minister Paschal Donohoe about MHR's ongoing research with the London School of Economics (LSE) about the benefit of investing in early intervention and prevention services in mental health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Circulating MHR's Pre-Budget Submission 2025 to specific Minister and invite public reps to MHR Pre Budget Submision Launch

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Invite sent to MHRs online launch of our Pre Budget Submission sent on the 16th July'} {'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'Invite sent to MHRs online launch of our Pre Budget Submission sent on the 16th July'} {'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Invite sent to MHRs online launch of our Pre Budget Submission sent on the 16th July'} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'Invite sent to MHRs online launch of our Pre Budget Submission sent on the 16th July'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'} + 10 more

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Health] Discussion on the status of the bill to reform the mental health act, the sub-committee on mental health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Thomas Pringle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Attendance at the National Economic Dialogue Forum

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Health] Invited to attend a public health roundtable meeting with FG to help inform their manifesto work

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Kyne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs