A GUIDE TO Introduction 3 STAGE 5 21-26 Who to lobby EFFECTIVE LOBBYING STAGE 1 5-6 - Who to lobby in Ireland WOMEN’S GROUPS Lobbying and the potential for - Who to lobby in the European Union women’s groups - Maintaining motivation IN IRELAND - What is lobbying? - Recognising the potential of your work STAGE 6 27-32 Developing your media strategy Contents STAGE 2 7-10 - What is the media? Understanding how policy is made - Devising a media strategy - What is policy? - Contacting the media - Who influences policy? - Attracting the media - Who decides policy? - Compiling a campaign media resource - Policy and legislation - Do’s and Don’ts STAGE 3 11-14 TOOLS AND RESOURCES 33-40 Getting started on your - How to write a letter to a decision-maker Lobbying Campaign - How to draft a submission - Identifying your issue - How to present a submission - Building your case - How to get the most from meeting (I) gathering information decision-makers (Ii) establishing the policy context - How to draft a parliamentary question - Creating your lobbying document - Holding an event and sample event checklist STAGE 4 15-20 - How to hold meetings Developing your Campaign - Sample press release - Planning your lobbying strategy - Your group’s campaign charter APPENDIX 1: THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 41 - Gaining support USEFUL RESOURCES: 43-46 The education and empowerment of Background We wish to thank the following people who women throughout the world cannot fail contributed their time, expertise and knowledge to In late 2005, the National Women’s Council to result in a more caring, tolerant, just the training events: of Ireland undertook a project to enhance the and peaceful life for all. lobbying capacity of women’s groups throughout Aung San Suu Kyi Dan Boyle, T.D. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate leader of Ireland. It began by conducting a number of Kathleen Lynch, T.D. MyanMar’s democracy movement regional training seminars for women’s groups Dr. Sandra Mc Evoy, “ with the participation of local politicians. Cork Women’s Political Association c Breda Moynihan-Cronin, T.D. The development of this handbook has arisen Catherine Murphy, T.D. directly from the information obtained at these Jan O’Sullivan, T.D. seminars and was devised bearing in mind the Peter Power, T.D. concerns and needs of the participants. We extend our thanks to the women who participated in the training events and shared their Acknowledgements experiences with us. Their insights were invaluable We would like to acknowledge and appreciate PAGE 2 PAGE in producing this publication. / the work of Darra Power-Mooney (MSocSc) in compiling the materials for this handbook and Finally, we wish to thank the Combat Poverty in co-ordinating the regional lobbying training Agency for providing the funding to carry out this seminars, which formed the basis for this piece of work. publication. We would also like to express gratitude to the NWCI staff members, in particular, Orla O’ Connor (Head of Policy) and Rachel Doyle (Head of Outreach) for their work on this handbook and on the training. A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Groups in Ireland A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Introduction STAGE 1 The purpose of this handbook is to assist women’s What is Lobbying? groups develop an achievable strategy for change. It is intended as a guide to effective lobbying of STAGE 2 decision-makers in Ireland and is designed to Understanding how policy is made build the capacity of women’s groups across the STAGE 3 country to engage with decision-makers and the Getting Started on your Lobbying Campaign policy-making process. c STAGE 4 The layout of this handbook is set out in stages Developing your Campaign to support your group in moving from issues to STAGE 5 3 PAGE action. Each section contains tips, examples and Lobbying the Right people, the Right Way case studies so as to assist in the development of a STAGE 6 lobbying campaign; Developing your Media Strategy INTRODUCTION / A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Groups in Ireland A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s c A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Groups in Ireland INTRODUCTION / PAGE 4 STAGE 1 Lobbying and the potential for c women’s groups PAGE 5 PAGE STAGE 3 / STAGE We must remember the past, define the future, and challenge the present, wherever and however we can. Jane O’Reilly, Writer “ Groups in Ireland A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s STAGE 1 Describes lobbying and the potential that exists for women’s groups to achieve change through participation in the decision-making process. What is Lobbying? Lobbying Activity can take many forms Recognising the Potential of Lobbying can be described as any direct pressure your Work on decision-makers, with the aim of influencing Direct Lobbying by women’s groups is an essential tool change through organised action. in ensuring that women’s issues are raised at both • Meeting with politicians and civil servants a local and national level. Eliminating women’s c Lobbying generally falls into two categories: direct • Writing submissions inequality requires fundamental change in policy, and indirect. • Speaking to committees which occurs only when strong pressure is put on the political system. Informing decision-makers is PAGE 6 PAGE Direct Lobbying involves gaining access to, a key part of effecting change. Lobbying enables pressuring and informing key decision-makers Indirect the knowledge and experience of groups working about an issue to achieve change, for example • Letter writing campaigns with women, become a resource for policy makers STAGE 1 / STAGE face-to-face meetings with TDs. when deciding on policy change or on the design • Public protests of new programmes. Indirect lobbying involves attempting to influence • Media activity decision-makers through the participation of the Never doubt that a small group of general public in lobbying action for example letter thoughtful committed citizens can writing campaigns. This can sometimes be referred change the world. Indeed, it is the only to as grassroots lobbying. thing that ever has. “ Margaret Mead, Cultural Anthropologist A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Groups in Ireland A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Legislation is slow to produce and slow to dispose of and there are many points in the process where a good lobbyists’ intervention can make all the difference. “ Liz McManus Labour T.D. STAGE 2 Understanding How Policy is Made We must remember the past, define the future, and challenge the present, wherever and however we can. “ Jane O’Reilly STAGE 2 Describes how policy is made and the different groups involved in the policy making process. Understanding at which level decisions are made will enable your group to lobby effectively. Diagram showing some of the people involved What is Policy? Who influences Policy? in shaping and influencing policy: The development of policy in Ireland requires the Policy is a course of action resulting involvement of many different stakeholders in from decisions made by Government. society. There are a number of ways policy can be Social Partners e.g. influenced in Ireland: For example: c All policy is interconnected, reflecting a society’s Trade Unions, Community social, political, and economic values and beliefs. • A Programme for Government that is agreed and Voluntary Organisations, Policy in Ireland can be made at a local and upon by a new government and sets out the Employers, Farmers. PAGE 8 PAGE national level and can be influenced by both Goals and objectives of Government for the Community European and international policy decisions. term of office > Organisations, • A Legislative Programme: that is published at Lobbyists STAGE 2 / STAGE Social Policies are decisions made by Government the start of every Dáil session. and Interests > concerning the redistribution of wealth and INFLUENCING The EU • European Union decisions that are to be groups, POLICY > mainly relate to economic and social protection & UN adopted into Irish policy Environmental during various stages of people’s lives, including • Consultation and collective decision-making groups, > unemployment, ill health, maternity, child rearing, with different stakeholders Women’s groups widowhood, disability and old age. The Government may also consult with Government Advisory Bodies stakeholders to inform & influence policy. (e.g. NESC), Task Forces) e.g. Steering Group on Violence Against Women), Civil Servants. A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Groups in Ireland A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Who Decides Policy? Policy and Legislation The drafting and implementing of policies is the Legislation is slow to produce and responsibility of key decision-makers for example: slow to dispose of and there are TDs, Senators, members of political parties, many points in the process where civil servants, the judiciary and those involved in a good lobbyists’ intervention can the negotiation and consultation process1. make all the difference. Liz McManus Labour T.D. Below is a diagram showing the key decision- makers in the policy process: “ c The Oireachtas PAGE 9 PAGE (Dáil and the Seanad), Political parties > STAGE 2 / STAGE Public service The > Administrators, DECISION- MAKERS > European Civil Servants Union > Local government e.g. County Councils, local authorities 1 For a further explanation of the political system in Ireland see:1Harvey, B. (2002) A guide to influencing policy in Ireland. Dublin: Combat Poverty Agency. Groups in Ireland A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s c A Guide to Effective Lobbying for Women’s Groups in Ireland STAGE 2 / PAGE 10 Your thoughts… STAGE 3 Getting started on your lobbying campaign No matter how righteous the cause there is always a case for looking at the wider effects of political decisions that may be made in response to a case being made.