Overwatch Report

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] AOTI submission to the Joint Oireachas Committee on Disability consultation on pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maurice Quinlivan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Carrigy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aisling Dempsey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seamus Healy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Kiera Keogh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI representatives met with officials in the Department of the Taoiseach to discuss the Disability Unit's Work Programme 2025-27 and the delivery of Occupational Therapy services in children's disability services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] Several professional bodies, including AOTI, wrote to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Ms. Norma Foley TD., to highlight our collective concerns about the draft HSE Autism Assessment & Intervention Pathway Protocol

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] The Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA), of which AOTI is a member, met the Minister for Health on 27 August 2025 to discuss 3 key areas: the long-term plan for Chief HSCP Officer; the approach to regulation of HSCP professions not named in the HSCP Act; and HSCP workforce planning including Programme for Government commitment to double the graduates in several HSCP professions including Occupational Therapy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Minister Mary Butler regarding the Commission on Care for Older People

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and the Chief Clinical Officer about the Work-Able Solutions Occupational Therapy service.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bernard Gloster', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Health Service Executive)'} {'name': 'Dr Colm Henry', 'role': 'Chief Clinical Officer (Health Service Executive)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] AOTI met with the Oireachtas Committee on Autism to set out the Occupational Therapy profession's perspective relating to the services and supports provided by the State for autistic people

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Carrigy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Joan Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Wall', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Ruairí Ó Murchú', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] AOTI wrote to Deputy Holly Cairns, member of the Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who requested engagement with AOTI following publication of the Committee’s Report on Assessment of Needs for Children

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following the publication of its Report on Assessment of Needs for Children

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kathleen Funchion', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] AOTI wrote to Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in relation to which health professionals can witness a passport application in the Republic of Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Minister for Health inviting him to deliver an opening address at our annual conference

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] Meeting with Mary Butler TD, Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Older People

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Kate Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] AOTI attended a meeting with Deputy David Cullinane along with colleagues from the Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA) to discuss our concerns about the lack of a senior independent health and social care professional officer within the Department of Health

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Education and Training] AOTI engaged with the Department of Education regarding its approach to inclusive education in schools and the implementation of the School Inclusion Model

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bernie McNally', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Education)'} {'name': 'Martina Mannion', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI with colleagues from the Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA) wrote to the Secretary General of the Department of Health in relation to the establishment a Health and Social Care Advisory Unit to provide the Minister and Department with expert advice and support

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] Meeting with Mary Butler TD, Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Older People

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Kate Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] Meeting with Anne Rabbitte TD, Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Noel Byrne', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Minister for Health in relation to our 2021 Annual Conference inviting him to make an opening address

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] Following our meeting with Minister Anne Rabbitte AOTI engaged with the Minister's Special Adviser Noel Byrne

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Noel Byrne', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] AOTI wrote colleagues from the Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA) to the Minister for Health seeking a follow-up meeting to our meeting with him in December 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] AOTI with colleagues from the Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA) wrote to the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability to highlight the redirection of HSCP staff into the administration role of Assessment Officer for Assessments of Need

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI submitted a pre-budget submission to the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure & Reform, and Health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Noel Byrne', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Older People seeking a meeting focusing on Occupational Therapy matters in adult mental health services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Education and Training] AOTI wrote to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science seeking a meeting focusing on the role of Occupational Therapy in higher education institutions

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI attended a meeting with Deputy Róisín Shortall along with colleagues from the Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA) to discuss our concerns about the lack of a senior independent health and social care professional officer within the Department of Health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, as part of the Health and Social Care Professional Alliance (HSCPA), was a co-signatory of two letters to the Minister of Health and the Secretary General of the Department of Health on the 27/2/2020 and the 11/3/2020 respectively, regarding the advertisement of the role of Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). The inclusion of the Health and Social Care Advisor post under the CNO post is not acceptable to the HSCPA .

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] Letter requesting the establishment of an independent Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) Advisory Unit and a Chief HSCP Advisor role in the Department of Health, to introduce minimum safe staffing levels for occupational therapists and other HSCPs, and to end the current panel system of recruitment in the HSE and to develop a new fit for purpose syste.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} + 1 more

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] Letter written to the Minister of Health by a number of Health and Social Care Professional bodies of which the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) was a signatory.The letter was in relation to concerns about the impact of Covid 19 on AOTI Private Practice members and seeking a meeting with the Minister to address these concerns.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] Letter written to the Minister of Health by the Health and Social Care Professional Alliance (HSPCA) in which the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland was a signatory. The letter was in relation to HSCPA concerns about aspects of the Chief Nursing Officer's role and seeking a meeting with the Minister for Health to discuss our concerns.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI wrote to the Minister for Health to express our concerns about the growing waiting lists nationally for Occupational Therapy services; the continuing redeployment of occupational therapists in HSE primary care, disability and community mental health services to carry out COVID test and trace; and the HSE panel system of recruitment not being fit for purpose.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs