Overwatch Report

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Social Protection] Letter sent to Minister Humphreys IASW see that vulnerable people in our communities across the country are being additionally adversely affected in the current extreme weather

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Education and Training] IASW supports call for urgent review of reporting mechanisms on the use of restraint in schools

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Housing] IASW statement regarding the removal of prioritisation for housing for young adults leaving state care.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Housing] IASW calls for inclusion of alcohol within the new national drugs strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Social Protection] IASW Response to the Farrelly Commission Report

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) writing to express our full support for the tabling of an Emergency UN resolution scheduled for debate on Wednesday morning in the Dáil, calling for urgent and unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza through the United Nations mechanism

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] that we write to you to highlight our collective concerns about the HSE’s draft Autism Assessment & Intervention Pathway Protocol and to request an urgent meeting.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] The IASW has learned that TUSLA have published a tender document for Close Protection security staff to work alongside Social Care Staff in Special Care Units. We are writing to express our deep concern for the children held in Special Care and detention in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] The IASW wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all those who knew, loved, and cared for the child recently discovered missing and now presumed dead in Donabate. This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this devastating loss

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Statement from IASW in support the calls of families and family representative groups for transparency and reform in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Social Protection] The Irish Association of Social Workers respond to organisational abuse in RTE Investigates, Inside Irelands Nursing Homes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Kieran O'Donnell", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] The IASW deplores the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and we condemn the relentless genocidal actions by the Israeli government that has resulted in more than 50,000 deaths, including thousands of women and children. Many thousands more have been maimed, injured, and traumatised and face starvation in the coming days and weeks, as well as ongoing risk of death and injury, unless decisive international action is taken to stop the killing.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Health] Opening Statement by the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pádraig Rice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Sorca Clarke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Social Protection] a number of questions pertaining to older persons care in congregated settings and in the community

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Liam Quaide', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Social Protection] Re: Adult Safeguarding legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Liam Quaide', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] 04 Sept 25 - IASW Statement on Missing Children

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Health] Mental Health Reform - Letter to the Taoiseach

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] 27 Nov 2025 - Statement on the killings, abductions and violence across Nigeria

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Health] Safeguarding in Adult Mental Health: Building Blocks towards Best Practice – contextualizes the complexity of skills, knowledge and practices required in the area of safeguarding and adult mental health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gino Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Education and Training] Commissioned by the Irish Association of Social Workers, with the All-Employers Social Work Forum and the Social Work Education and Practice Teaching (SWEPT) group, to explore, assess and evaluate possibilities and make recommendations to improve social work practice placement availability and co-ordination in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Niall Collins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'} {'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Health] Commission on Care for Older People

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Health] IASW Response to Sinn Féin Consultation Document – Priorities for Change in Health & Social Care IASW welcomes the clear statement from Sinn Féin that healthcare is a human right. Social care is also human right.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Health & Social Care Professional Organisations continue to highlight serious concern with the current direction, impact and safety of Children’s Disability Services

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Education and Training] meeting with Fiona O’Byrne and her Dept. of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) colleague, Elaine, to discuss the IASW's Practice Placements report

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Colm O'Reardon", 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) is extremely concerned at the content of the latest report from the Child Law Project (CLP): Volume 1 2024 and calls for urgent action to be taken on the issues arising.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

May–August

[Employment] IASW is concerned at the current impasse in the ongoing industrial relations issues in the National Advocacy Service

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Emer Higgins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] we discussed respite provision for children with complex disabilities across the country as well as enhanced supports for families in crisis and residential placements for children with complex disabilities

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Community] independent organisations and voluntary and community organisations concerned with mental health in Ireland, we are deeply disappointed that the Mental Health Bill 2024 will not progress much further before the dissolution of the current Dáil and Seanad in advance of the forthcoming general election.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

September–December

[Employment] IASW Sent a Statement on the Pay and Numbers Strategy following the lifting of the recruitment embargo in the HSE

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Health] : Request for social work participation in roundtable discussions to improve the development of governance structures, service delivery and best practice in CAMHS

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs