The document discusses key political issues facing the Northern Ireland Assembly, such as water charges, health and education policies, and economic challenges. It highlights the importance of lobbying and building consensus among various political parties on critical topics like personal care and affordable housing. Strategies for effective lobbying are outlined, emphasizing the need for targeting influential stakeholders and building long-term relationships to effect change.

1. Policy, lobbying and the NI Assembly Katherine McDonald Stratagem

2. Our new politics? Photograph: Paul Faith/Pool/PA Wire

3. THE ISSUES Water charges Health (prescriptions, personal care) Education (11+) The Economy (corporation tax, industrial de-rating) Affordable housing

4. The Manifestos Consensus can be built e.g.: Commissioner for Older People Free personal care Mental health Some spending commitments e.g.: Drop prescription charges (UUP, SF) Devolutionary comparisons and RoI

5. Lobbying in the Manifestos Postcode prescribing and access to drugs Access to dementia medications Arthritis, MS, cancer, heart disease and stroke, respiratory disease Diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular illnesses

6. Election Results 1 Ind Health +1 1 Green Party 1 PUP +1 7 Alliance Party -2 16 SDLP -9 18 UUP +4 28 Sinn Fein +6 36 DUP Seats Party

7. SEATS

8. A BATTLE A DAY? “ Love in” or “Work in”?

9. DHSS&PS Minister Michael McGimpsey RPA and local commissioning Review of Prescription charges MRSA Mental health and suicide prevention Free personal care

10. Agriculture and Rural Development Foot and Mouth Sale of DARD land

11. Culture, Arts & Leisure Stadium Irish Language Bill

12. Environment RPA – future of local government Planning backlog Giant’s Causeway

13. Education Classroom Assistants’ Pay Post 11 arrangements School buildings modernisation

14. Employment & Learning FE Lecturers pay dispute Tackling illiteracy Building skills base for economic vision Regional minimum wage

15. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Employment levels healthy New inward investment Move away from public sector dominance

16. Finance & Personnel Inherited budget and CSR Efficiency savings – ‘ only 3%?’ Varney and corporation tax Managing other Ministers

17. Regional Development Delayed water charges Review of Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Investment

18. Social Development Welfare Reform Bill Affordable Housing Funding for loyalist programmes

19. Assembly Business Affordable Housing debate – housing associations Free Personal Care – Age Concern Domestic Violence – Women’s Aid Fuel Poverty – SCF, Barnardo’s Carers’ Support – Carers Week

20. "Many people in politics can tell you what just happened to you...you need to change outcomes." Tony Podesta, Washington Lobbyist

21. Making Real Impact What do you want to say? Whom do you want to say it to - who has an interest? Who wields influence? What do you do - actions Is it working? “

22. 1.What’s my line? What’s do I want? Where do I need it? What’s my evidence? How much will it cost? KEEP IT LOCAL

23. Evidence base Politically acceptable What is do-able Understand the environment – where does policy come from?

24. 2. Targeting Minister Permanent Secretary/Special Advisers Civil Service OFMDFM MLAs and Constituents Party Colleagues and Policy Staff The ‘Establishment’ Party Members Unions, user groups lobby groups Academics, think-tanks experts

25. NETWORKING “No network? No chance!” Jacques Delors ? ? ? ? ? ? ? You

26. 3. What can we do? Meetings Briefings – short Committee presentation Questions Debates Constituency events Party conferences

27. OTHER ACTIVITIES Media Photocalls Articles Opinion Pieces Profiles Seminars Dinners

28. 4. LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE A Corporate Case? LEARNING WHO HELPED KNOWLEDGE AT START THE CHALLANGE

29. IS IT WORKING? Remember, change does not happen overnight, so… … build in milestones/benchmarks to keep your self motivated Parties met, meetings held, column inches etc. Evaluate, then start again!

30. ‘ All politics is local’ Coalitions and opposition Persevere Build relationships for the long-term

31. “ If you don’t lobby, government assumes you have no problems” Ellis, N. (1998) Parliamentary Lobbying