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Who We Are


EAPN Ireland

Established in 1990, the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland is a network of groups and individuals working against poverty. It is the Irish national network of the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN Europe), which has two decades of experience in lobbying for progressive social change at European level.

EAPN Ireland supports a network of over two hundred local, regional and national organisations and individuals’ committed to tackling poverty through a range of actions including community development, policy analysis and lobbying, campaigning and participation. EAPN Ireland aims to build the capacity of its membership to engage with national and European policy making through training, information dissemination, collective action and networking.

Campaigns that EAPN Ireland has worked on in the last number of years include the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, Ireland in Social Europe: Challenging Perceptions and Changing Realities, the European Minimum Income Campaign, European Parliament Awareness Project, the Social Aspects of the Lisbon Treaty, and campaign to include poverty targets in the European 2020 strategy. EAPN Ireland has also worked with members at local level to retain capacity and fight cutbacks to existing services, and with associates at national level through campaigns like the Poor Can’t Pay, the Equality and Rights Alliance, Is Feider Linn, and the Community Platform.

Staff

Robin Hanan,  Director  

Robin Hanan returned as Director on EAPN Ireland in 2012. Robin previously worked as Coordinator of the Network from 1999 to 2007. In between this time Robin worked as Director of the Irish Refugee Council and as a social policy consultant. Prior to coming to EAPN Ireland in 1999 Robin was the Coordinator of Comhlamh and in the civil service.

Paul Ginnell, Policy Officer

Paul has been the Policy Officer with EAPN Ireland since 2005. Paul’s role is to support people experiencing poverty and social exclusion and their organisations, many of which are members of EAPN Ireland, to understand and to contribute to policy making in Ireland and the EU. This involves regular engagement with membes and policy makers. He also represents EAPN Ireland on the EU Inclusion Strategies Working Group which is established by EAPN (Europe) and previously on the Structural Funds Working Group. Before coming to EAPN Ireland Paul was Coordinator of an EQUAL Community initiative in Co. Westmeath and has also worked with the Limerick Travellers Development Group and the Irish Traveller Movement. He previously worked in Kenya with an organisation representing people with disabilities. Paul is a qualified Community Worker and also has a Masters in Applied Social Studies.

Maureen Gondipon,  Administrative Assistant

Maureen is the Administrative Assistant and she is responsible for all administrative aspects of our work; inputting, handling and maintaining financial data in our financial system; responsible for updating and maintaining our EAPN membership database; developing and maintaining necessary filing systems; acts as our Health and Safety Officer  and co-ordinates our calendar activities.  Maureen has an MBA (Aston University, UK), BA (Hons.)Librarianship & Information Studies, (University of North London, UK) and Professional Accounting Technician Ireland (IATI).


Management

EAPN Ireland is controlled by its members through Annual General Meetings, which decide policy and elect a Managing Board. The Board is responsible to the members for the day-to-day management of the organisation EAPN Ireland. European Anti Poverty Network Ireland Ltd, is a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital, registered in Dublin, Ireland with registered company number 214663.

Board members elected in June 2011 are:


Annual reports