Next Wednesday (15th of December), the Foetal Pain Relief Bill 2021 moves to Second Stage in the Dáil, where it will be debated and voted on during Private Members time.
The Bill which was introduced in the Dáil last May by Carol Nolan TD and co-sponsored by ten other deputies is a humane and important legislative proposal that if passed will ensure that no baby is forced to endure unnecessary pain during late-term abortions, that are now legal in Ireland in certain circumstances.
The active encouragement and support for this Bill from pro-life people around the country was instrumental in securing its progress to date.
We are calling on EVERYONE to contact their TDs in the coming days to ask them to vote in favour of the Bill next Wednesday to ensure it moves closer to a final stage vote in the Dáil.
Key Lobbying Points
The following are the key points to be made when contacting your TD:
- The Bill is a measured and humane proposal that simply seeks to ensure that no baby is forced to endure unnecessary pain during late-term abortions that are now legal in Ireland in certain circumstances.
- Scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that unborn babies experience pain, with the likelihood that this occurs much earlier than 20 weeks gestation.*[Derbyshire SWG and Bockmann JC, Reconsidering fetal pain, J Med Ethics 46, 3-6, 2020].
- Ireland’s Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 compels vets to give pain relief to an animal during any procedure that may cause it suffering or distress. It is an affront to human dignity that unborn babies at present are treated less humanely than animals.
- By providing compassionate pain relief before late-term abortions, the Bill is not interfering with the operation of the abortion legislation generally. It simply seeks to relieve pain and distress to the baby, backed by scientific research.
- We are asking you to please vote in favour of the Bill yourself, please speak in favour of it in the Dáil, and ask your parliamentary colleagues to join you in voting for the Bill.
Contacting your Local TDs
Please take some time TODAY to e-mail, write, phone or visit some of your politicians on this list and ask them to vote Tá, in favour of progressing the Bill to committee stage. Please find below contact information for the relevant politicians to contact.
John McGuinness FF TD
- (056) 777 0672, (087) 285 5834, (01) 618 3137
- john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie
- John McGuinness TD Constituency Office, O’loughlin Road, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny.
Jennifer Murnane O’Connor FF TD
- (01) 618 3307, (059) 917 0754, (059) 972 2167, (086) 160 8612
- jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie
- Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, Bagenal Court, Court Place, Carlow.
John Paul Phelan FG TD
- (056) 775 2522, (01) 618 4202, (067) 779 3210
- johnpaul.phelan@oireachtas.ie
- 25 Market Street, Thomastown, Kilkenny.
Brendan Smith FF TD
- (049) 436 2366, (01) 618 3376
- brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie
- 3 Carrickfern, Cavan.
Niamh Smyth FF TD
- (01) 618 3492, (042) 966 66 66, (042) 975 18 02, (049) 854 57 88
- niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie
- Adelaide Row, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan.
Matt Carthy SF TD
- (01) 6183473, (042) 9674001
- matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Pauline Tully SF TD
- (01) 6183210
- pauline.tully@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Cathal Crowe FF TD
- (01) 6183154
- cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie
- 4 Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95W9NP.
Joe Carey FG TD Clare
- (065) 689 1199, (01) 618 3337
- joe.carey@oireachtas.ie
- Constituency Office, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.
Michael McNamara Independent TD
- (01) 6183879, (065) 6893639
- michael.mcnamara@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
James O’Connor FF TD
- (01) 6183468
- james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
David Stanton FG TD
- (021) 463 2867, (01) 618 3181
- david.stanton@oireachtas.ie
- 29 St Mary’s Road, Midleton, Co. Cork.
Pádraig O’Sullivan FF TD
- (021) 4502289, (01) 6184505
- padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Colm Burke FG TD
- (021) 456 4552, (01) 618 3115, (021) 482 4577
- colm.burke@oireachtas.ie
- Washington House, 33 Washington Street, Cork.
Michael Creed FG TD
- (026) 418 35, (01) 618 3525
- michael.creed@oireachtas.ie
- 95 Railway View, Macroom, Co. Cork.
Aindrias Moynihan FF TD
- (01) 618 3428, (021) 482 6644, (026) 23346
- aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Michael Moynihan FF TD
- (029) 512 99, (01) 618 3595
- michael.moynihan@oireachtas.ie
- Percival Street, Kanturk, Co. Cork.
Michael McGrath FF TD
- (021) 437 6699, (01) 618 3801
- michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie
- Main Street, Carrigaline, Co.Cork.
Simon Coveney FG TD
- (021) 437 4200, (01) 618 3753
- simon.coveney@oireachtas.ie
- Main Street, Carrigaline, Co.Cork.
Christopher O’Sullivan FF TD
- (01) 6183095
- christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Michael Collins Independent TD
- (01) 618 3133
- michael.collins@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Charle McConalogue FF TD
- (074) 917 7282, (074) 937 3131, (01) 618 3199
- charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
- Chapel Street, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal.
Pearse Doherty SF TD
- (074) 953 2832, (01) 618 3960
- pearse.doherty@oireachtas.ie
- Machaire Chlochair, Na Doirí Beaga, Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dún Na Ngall.
Seán Haughey FF TD
- (01) 618 3695, (087) 349 4888
- sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Jim O’Callaghan FF TD
- (01) 6184259, (01) 618 3134, (086) 3993807, 01 475 89 43
- jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie
- 37 South Richmond Street, Portobello, Dublin 2.
Darragh O’Brien FF TD
- (01) 618 3802, (01) 888 2000
- darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Jack Chambers FF TD
- (01) 618 3754, (01) 6933393
- jack.chambers@oireachtas.ie
- Jack Chambers Constituency Office, Laurel Lodge Shopping Centre, Castleknock, Dublin 15.
Cormac Devlin FF TD
- (01) 275 0786, (01) 6183822
- cormac@cormacdevlin.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill FG TD
- (01) 6183812
- jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Anne Rabbitte FF TD
- (01) 618 3991, (090) 975 9695
- anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie
- The Hub, St Brendan Street, Portumna, Co. Galway.
Ciarán Cannon FG TD
- (091) 880 790, (01) 618 3185
- ciaran.cannon@oireachtas.ie
- Unit 1, Bride Street, Loughrea, Co. Galway.
Seán Canney Independent TD
- (01) 618 3436, (086) 251 3639, (093) 26476
- sean.canney@oireachtas.ie
- St. Davids, The Mall, Tuam, Co. Galway.
Éamon Ó Cuív FF TD
- (091) 562 846, (01) 618 4231
- eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie
- Kirwan House, Sráid Tobar An Iarla, Gaillimh.
Noel Grealish Independent TD
- (091) 764 807, (01) 618 4270
- noel.grealish@oireachtas.ie
- Constituency Office, Unit 14, Briarhill Business Park, Briarhill, Galway.
Norma Foley FF TD
- (01) 6183375
- norma.foley@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Pa Daly SF TD
- (01) 6183779
- pa.daly@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Danny Healy Rae Independent TD
- (064) 668 5315, (087) 231 6055, (01) 618 4070
- danny.healy-rae@oireachtas.ie
- Main Street, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry.
Michael Healy Rae Independent TD
- (064) 668 5782, (01) 618 3363
- michael.healy-rae@oireachtas.ie
- Sandymount, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry.
Seán Fleming FF TD
- (057) 873 2692, (01) 618 3472
- sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie
- Castletown, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Carol Nolan Independent TD
- (01) 618 3160
- carol.nolan@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Willie O’Dea FF TD
- (061) 454 488, (01) 618 4259
- willie.odea@oireachtas.ie
- 2 Glenview Gardens, Farranshone, Limerick.
Kieran O’Donnell FG TD
- (061) 204 040, (01) 618 3808
- kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie
- 32 Upper Mallow Street, Limerick.
Patrick O’Donovan FG TD
- (069) 779 98, (01) 618 3610
- patrick.odonovan@oireachtas.ie
- St. Mary’s Road, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.
Richard O’Donoghue Independent TD
- (063) 31133, (01) 6183500
- richard.odonoghue@oireachtas.ie
- Charleville Road, Kilmallock, Co.Limerick, V35 HK18.
Joe Flaherty FF TD
- (01) 6183122
- joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Robert Troy FF TD
- (044) 933 4857, (087) 797 9890, (01) 618 4059
- robert.troy@oireachtas.ie
- The Manse, Castle Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Peter Burke FG TD
- (01) 618 3070, (044) 938 5044
- peter.burke@oireachtas.ie
- Unit 2, Blackhall Court, Mullingar, County Westmeath.
Peter Fitzpatrick Independent TD
- (042) 933 0100, (01) 618 3563
- peterm.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie
- 2 Courthouse Square, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Dara Calleary FF TD
- (096) 776 13, (01) 618 3331
- dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie
- 19 Pearse Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Alan Dillon FG TD
- (01) 6183049
- alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Thomas Byrne FF TD
- (01) 835 7075, (085) 834 7630, (01) 618 3310
- thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie
- Bective Square, Kells, Co. Meath.
Damien English FG TD
- (01) 618 4012, (046) 907 1667, (046) 948 3344, (046) 948 3383
- damien.english@oireachtas.ie
- 24a Railway Street, Navan, Co Meath, C15 EC6D.
Peadar Tóibín Aontú TD
- (01) 618 3518, (046) 902 3472
- peadar.toibin@oireachtas.ie
- Irish Unity Centre, 8 Market Square, Navan, Co. Meath.
Michael Fitzmaurice Independent TD
- (086) 191 4565, (090) 6628479, (01) 618 3321
- michael.fitzmaurice@oireachtas.ie
- Castle View Terrace, Roscommon Town.
Marc MacSharry Independent TD
- (086) 267 4764, (01) 618 4221, (071) 914 3616
- marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie
- Knockderry House, Stephen Street, Sligo.
Frankie Feighan FG TD
- (071) 966 2115, (01) 618 4289
- frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie
- Bridge Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
Marian Harkin Independent TD
- (01) 6183820
- marian.harkin@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Jackie Cahill FF TD
- (01) 618 3725, (0504) 24632, (087) 282 0663
- jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie
- Parnell Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Martin Browne SF TD
- (01) 6184603
- martin.browne@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Michael Lowry Independent TD
- (0504) 22022, (01) 618 3504
- michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie
- Abbey Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Mattie McGrath Independent TD
- (052) 612 9155, (086) 818 4307, (01) 618 4062
- mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie
- 2 Joyces Lane, The Quay, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Mary Butler FF TD
- (01) 618 3599, (058) 43 499, (087) 742 5020, (058) 841 437
- mary.butler@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Matt Shanahan Independent TD
- (01) 6183522
- matt.shanahan@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
James Browne FF TD
- (01) 618 3094, (053) 923 5046
- james.browne@oireachtas.ie
- Lower Church Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Paul Kehoe FG TD
- (053) 924 3558, (01) 618 4473, (051) 425 900
- paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie
- 7 Weafer St, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Verona Murphy Independent TD
- (01) 6183329
- verona.murphy@oireachtas.ie
- Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 XR20.
Guidelines to Effective Lobbying
What is Lobbying
What exactly is lobbying? Simply put it is an attempt to influence someone else’s opinion or activities. Lobbying in the governmental process is making information available to elected representatives and public officials who cannot be expected to know how every law or regulation will impact on a given issue.
Good lobbying? This is your ability to make your point of view both interesting and relevant, to focus on your topic, argument, and strategy in such a way as to make the person you are trying to influence stop and listen!
There are several ways to reach an elected representative, phone, letter, personal visits and e-mail. But the key to all approaches is “Common Sense.”
- Be fair and reasonable.
- Be realistic.
- Have a plan.
- Never leave in anger.
- Contact with regularity, not just near election time.
- Be factual, never guess an answer to something you are unsure about. Say “I don’t know, but I will get back to you”, and make sure you do!
- Give credit where credit is due.
- Don’t get overly emotional in making your point.
- Ask your TD or Senator where he/she stands and how they plan on voting.
Lobbying by phone
- Identify yourself by name, address, town and phone number.
- Briefly state your position and how you would like your politician to act.
- Ask for their position or view of the Bill or proposal.
- Volunteer to forward further information.
- Be prepared to speak to their secretary or PA to have your position relayed
- Cultivate ongoing relationships with these staff people.
Lobbying by visit
- Drop them a note or call before your visit. If you are a constituent, say so. Indicate your primary interest in meeting with them. Try for a personal appointment, offering two or three alternative times you are available.
- Address legislators as “Deputy” or “Senator”.
- Arrive on time and be prepared when you arrive. Know what you are going to say. Have a statement or fact sheet to leave behind.
- Offer a solution to the problem or concern you raise.
- Don’t overstay your welcome. The meeting should last no more than 15-20 minutes unless the politician indicates clearly that he/she wishes it to last longer.
Lobbying by letter
Politicians are most sensitive to grassroots opinion from the voters in their own areas. Write short, thoughtful, sincere letters on issues that directly affect or concern you. These letters will get the most attention.
- Be specific. One issue per letter.
- Address legislators properly, write legibly or preferably, one typewritten page. Include your address.
- Clearly state your view for or against a proposal and present your reasons.
- Base your position on your personal experiences/observations.
- Timing is critical. If a letter arrives too early, it is forgotten. Letters should generally arrive a few days before the vote or decision. However, don’t let waiting for the right time to come along keep you from writing. The Oireachtas schedule is very unpredictable. It is better to reach someone early in the debate then after they have made up their mind or not at all.
Lobbying by e-mail
Because of the ease in which e-mail may be sent by anyone from anywhere in the world, it is difficult to gauge its effectiveness. Additionally, different people use e-mail differently. If you know a politician who uses it extensively, it may be a sufficient way to communicate. Keep in mind, however, the less personal a lobbying effort is the less effective it will be, and e-mail is the least personal way to contact a politician.
- Follow the rules for writing a letter.
- Make sure you clearly identify yourself with a real world address.
- Try to include the issue and your position in the subject line. Even if they don’t read the message, they will see this information.
- If possible send your message with a reply receipt. This will let you know if they have opened it and if you need to make contact in another way.