Preasráiteas: An chéad Imeacht Náisiúnta Feasachta ar Dhaonchairdeas óstáilte ag an Tánaiste Simon Harris agus ag an Aire Jerry Buttimer
Media Release
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister Jerry Buttimer host the first National Philanthropy Awareness Event
Today (Thursday 14 May 2026) Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, joined Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer, to open the first National Philanthropy Awareness event.
With over 300 representatives from national and local government, the philanthropy sector, civil society and communities, this event in the RDS explores how philanthropy fits within Ireland’s wider ecosystem and how collaboration across sectors can support innovation and deliver public value.
The event, focused on the theme “Where Philanthropy fits – Roles, Partnerships and Public Value” outlining how philanthropy can complement public systems and contribute to shared social, cultural and community outcomes.
One of the key objectives under the National Philanthropy Policy 2024-2028, is Communications and Awareness Raising. The event here today provides an opportunity to showcase philanthropic giving, communicating the positive impact of philanthropy in Ireland while educating, inspiring and mobilising Government, corporates, and members of the public, to create a stronger and more visible culture of philanthropy in Ireland.
Opening the event, Tánaiste Simon Harris said:
“Today’s National Philanthropy event highlights the real opportunity we have to work together to grow and strengthen philanthropic giving in Ireland.
“By bringing Government, philanthropy and communities together, we can enable greater giving and deliver meaningful and lasting impact for people across the country.”
Throughout the day, speakers and participants explored the role of philanthropy in Ireland and the opportunities to strengthen collaboration between government and the sector.
Guest speaker, Lady Mary Peters, shared insights on the impact of philanthropy in supporting communities and her experience of driving positive change through the Mary Peters Trust. For 50 years, the Mary Peters Trust has been Northern Ireland’s leading sports charity, dedicated to supporting over 5,000 young athletes with the talent and drive to succeed on the world stage.
During the event, a number of case studies were presented including The Common Knowledge Centre and Citywise and their respective philanthropy partners Airtricity and Deloitte, which demonstrated real-world impact and learnings that have been achieved through collaborations. And the Music Generation performance provided a powerful example of how philanthropy has influenced lives.
Areas of focus for the day included breakout sessions exploring Collaborating for Impact, Philanthropy for Local Impact and Corporate Philanthropy in Action which demonstrated how stronger partnerships and targeted approaches can deliver greater public value and support communities.
In his closing remarks Minister Buttimer confirmed the development of a framework to allow for better collaboration between Government, philanthropy and civil society.
Minister Buttimer said:
“An important part of philanthropy is about partnerships and collaboration. It is about government, communities, businesses and individuals coming together to achieve a difference.
“In Ireland, philanthropy is at a turning point. Through the National Philanthropy Policy, we are working to unlock its full potential to support communities across the country.
“As part of the Philanthropy Policy, my Department is developing a Framework for Collaboration to help make collaboration between Government, philanthropy and civil society easier, more connected and sustainable.
“To support this work, I have allocated DAF Funding of €3 million over the next two years to test this framework in practice and we are currently designing a funding call for projects which I will launch later this year.”
Minister Buttimer concluded:
“This event demonstrates the growing momentum behind philanthropy in Ireland and the real opportunity to strengthen how we work together across Government, communities and the philanthropic sector. By building stronger partnerships, we can strengthen communities, support innovation and deliver greater public value.”
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, 14 Bealtaine 2026
An chéad Imeacht Náisiúnta Feasachta ar Dhaonchairdeas óstáilte ag an Tánaiste Simon Harris agus ag an Aire Jerry Buttimer
Inniu (Déardaoin, 14 Bealtaine 2026) bhí an Tánaiste agus an tAire Airgeadais, Simon Harris, i gcuideachta an Aire Stáit le freagracht as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer, chun an chéad Imeacht Náisiúnta Feasachta ar Dhaonchairdeas a oscailt.
Le breis is 300 ionadaí ón rialtas náisiúnta agus áitiúil, ón earnáil daonchairdis, ón tsochaí shibhialta agus ó phobail, rinneadh plé le linn an imeachta seo san RDS faoi ról an daonchairdis i gcóras na hÉireann i gcoitinne agus faoin bhealach inar féidir tacú le nuálaíocht agus luach poiblí a chruthú trí chomhar ar fud earnálacha difriúla.
Dhírigh an t-imeacht ar an téama “Áit an Daonchairdis – Róil, Caidrimh agus Luach Poiblí”, agus leagadh amach an bealach inar féidir leis an daonchairdeas cur le córais phoiblí agus le torthaí comhroinnte sóisialta, cultúrtha agus pobail.
Tá Cumarsáid agus Ardú Feasachta ar cheann de phríomhchuspóirí an Pholasaí Náisiúnta Daonchairdis 2024-2028. Ba dheis í imeacht an lae inniu chun bronnadh daonchairdiúil a chur i láthair, trí dhea-thionchar an daonchairdis in Éirinn a thaispeáint agus oideachas, inspioráid agus spreagadh a thabhairt ag an am chéanna don Rialtas, do chorparáidí agus do bhaill an phobail, chun cultúr daonchairdis níos láidre agus níos feiceálaí a chruthú in Éirinn.
Agus é ag oscailt an imeachta, dúirt an Tánaiste Simon Harris:
“Tá imeacht Náisiúnta Daonchairdis an lae inniu ina léiriú ar an bhfíordheis atá againn chun obair le chéile le bronnadh daonchairdiúil a fhorbairt agus a neartú in Éirinn.
“Tríd an Rialtas a thabhairt le chéile le lucht an daonchairdis agus le pobail, is féidir linn borradh a chur faoin bhronnadh agus tionchar fiúntach marthanach a thabhairt i gcrích do dhaoine ar fud na tíre.”
I rith an lae, rinne cainteoirí agus rannpháirtithe plé ar ról an daonchairdis in Éirinn agus ar na deiseanna chun an comhar idir an rialtas agus an earnáil a neartú.
Thug an t-aoichainteoir, an Bhantiarna Mary Peters, léargas faoi thionchar an daonchairdis ó thaobh tacaíocht do phobail, agus taithí s’aici féin i leith athrú dearfach a spreagadh trí Iontaobhas Mary Peters. Le 50 bliain anuas, is é Iontaobhas Mary Peters an príomhcharthanas spóirt i dTuaisceart Éireann, atá dírithe ar thacaíocht a thabhairt do bhreis is 5,000 lúthchleasaí óga a bhfuil an cumas agus an spreagadh acu chun rath a bhaint amach ar stáitse an domhain.
Le linn an imeachta, cuireadh roinnt cás-staidéar i láthair, ar a n-áirítear The Common Knowledge Centre agus Citywise agus a gcomhpháirtithe daonchairdis faoi seach, Airtricity agus Deloitte, inar léiríodh an tionchar atá á imirt acu sa domhan agus na ceachtanna a foghlaimíodh trína bheith ag obair le chéile. Agus thug an léiriú le Music Generation sampla cumhachtach de thionchar an daonchairdis ar shaol daoine.
Briseadh an t-imeacht ina seomraí ar leithligh le linn an lae, inar pléadh Comhoibriú i gcomhair Tionchair, Daonchairdeas i gcomhair Tionchair Áitiúil agus Daonchairdeas Corparáideach ag Obair, a léirigh conas ar féidir tuilleadh luacha phoiblí a thabhairt i gcrích agus tacú le pobail trí chomhpháirtíochtaí níos láidre agus cineálacha cur chuige spriocdhírithe.
Ina ráitis deiridh, dheimhnigh an tAire Buttimer go bhfuil creat á fhorbairt chun comhoibriú níos fearr a éascú idir an Rialtas, an daonchairdeas agus an tsochaí shibhialta.
Dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Is codanna tábhachtacha den daonchairdeas iad comhpháirtíochtaí agus comhar. Is tábhachtach é don daonchairdeas freisin go dtagann rialtas, pobail, gnólachtaí agus daoine aonair le chéile chun difear a dhéanamh.
“Tá cor cinniúnach roimh an daonchairdeas in Éirinn. Tríd an bPolasaí Náisiúnta Daonchairdis, táimid ag oibriú chun a lánacmhainn a bhaint amach chun tacú le pobail ar fud na tíre.
“Mar chuid den Bheartas Daonchairdis, tá mo Roinn ag forbairt Creat um Chomhoibriú chun cabhrú le comhoibriú idir an Rialtas, an daonchairdeas agus an tsochaí shibhialta a dhéanamh níos éasca, níos nasctha agus níos inbhuanaithe.
“Chun tacú leis an obair seo, tá maoiniú CCD €3 mhilliún leithdháilte agam thar an dá bhliain atá romhainn chun an creat seo a thástáil i gcleachtas agus táimid ag dearadh glao maoinithe faoi láthair do thionscadail a sheolfaidh mé níos moille i mbliana.
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Léirítear leis an imeacht seo go bhfuil borradh faoi fhuinneamh an daonchairdis in Éirinn agus go bhfuil fíordheis againn le cur leis an mbealach a oibríonn muid le chéile idir an Rialtas, pobail agus an earnáil daonchairdis. Trí chomhpháirtíochtaí níos láidre a chruthú, is féidir linn pobail a neartú, tacú le nuálaíocht agus breis luacha phoiblí a bhaint amach.”