Overwatch Report

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Health] Seeking collaborative and resourced actions on tackling ageism and the impacts it has on the health of older people.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Communication around the type of social welfare payments that would not make applicant for immigration permissions/citizenship a burden on the state

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ben Ryan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] Concern for children with an intellectual disability living in residential and community settings. At this critical time, these children and their parents and carers are at increased risk of fatigue and burnout without essential supports. They have a right to protection and access to hospital & other healthcare interventions like every other Irish citizen. Health and social care staff providing essential services to these children during the Covid-19 pandemic are needed.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Jim Daly', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Tony Holohan', 'role': 'Chief Medical Officer (Department of Health)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

January–April

[Justice and Equality] With other representatives Irish Senior Citizens Parliament attended a briefing on how the new structures will deliver the Department's objectives to all across the lifecycle with specific emphasis under equality and vulnerable groups. .

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

January–April

[Social Protection] Attended Briefing by the Department of Employment and Social Protection on the Publication of the Cross Sectoral Strategy for Vulnerable Groups.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui MCCrum', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'John Conlon', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

January–April

[Health] Together with members of the Community & Voluntary we wrote a joint letter to all cal Party leaders regarding impact of Covid -19 on vulnerable people.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Ireland

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] Asked politicians to sign the following: “The Iranian government must end the state-sponsored dehumanisation and persecution of their Bahá’í citizens. We call on them to end their current campaign of arbitrary arrests and imprisonments and allow Bahá’ís their basic human rights.”

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kathleen Funchion', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Paul Phelan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 224 more

TU Dublin Students' Union CLG

May–August

[Community] Looking for process on how Direct Provision is to be ended and to find out how the citizen's assembly on drug decriminalization will occur (due to COVID)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Vodafone Ireland

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Vodafone Institute Report detailing citizens views on EU Member States response to COVID-19, the role of technology in supporting the recovery.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Hegarty', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Mark Griffin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Ó hÓbáin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Philip O’Callaghan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Ed Brophy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Chris Donoghue', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

South Tipperary Development CLG

May–August

[Communications] • An Acceleration of the rollout of the National Broadband plan, targeting initially areas of poor coverage in South Tipperary so as to ensure that all citizens of South Tipperary has access to high quality internet connections. This is essential to the development of South Tipperary from a social and economic perspective and will enable communities of South Tipperary to facilitate working remotely which is going to be part of our “new normal”. • The provision of high speed b

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mattie McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Lowry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)

May–August

[Health] Rosemary Keogh CEO Irish Wheelcahir Assocition, Ava Battles CEO MS Ireland and Kathleen OMeara The Disability action Coalition attended a meeting with Minister Harris to discus 1% effeciency cut impossed by HSE, the legacy deficit issues in the sector and the impact of Covid19 on financial viability in 2020.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

May–August

[Budgetary matters] The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament submitted our Pre-Budget 2021 ASKS to the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection on all the areas relevant to Older People.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui MCCrum', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphries', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

May–August

[Social Protection] The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament attended the Pre-Budget 2021 Forum held on 30th July in the Printworks, Dublin Castle, together with representatives from groups and bodies across the Lifecycle, Community & Voluntary groups, Commercial & Trade Bodies, Trade Unions and other interested bodies attended. Minister Heather Humphries and representatives of her Department were present.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui MCCrum', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphries', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

PDFORRA Medical Assistance Scheme

September–December

[Health] Failure of the Republic of Ireland side to try to continue the access of Irish citizens to healthcare in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive after Brexit. The Minister and Government should reverse this position.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Chambers Ireland

September–December

[Local Government] Profiling Chambers Ireland's proposals under SDG Goal 11 for Sustainable Cities and Communities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'AnnMarie Farrelly', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Fingal County Council)'}

PDFORRA Medical Assistance Scheme

September–December

[Health] The continued operation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (CBD) between the Republic of ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland following Brexit in respect of ROI citizens.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Defence)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Thomas Byrne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Brendan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Wall', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Irish Development Education Association

September–December

[Education and Training] Submission to a public consultation on the development of a new Statement of Strategy for the Department of Further and Higher Education. To develop a dialogue with IDEA and the Development Education sector focussed on ensuring strategic prioritisation, policy coherence and resourcing for existing development education initiatives, and to explore opportunities for new initiatives that can contribute to developing a society of active global citizens incorporating fulfilm

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Sligo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

September–December

[Community] Living in cities initiative extended to regional growth centres

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Frank Feighan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Revolut Payments Ireland Ltd

September–December

[Banking and Financial Institutions] General briefing on Revolut in Ireland, including: having more than 1m retail customers; the provision of free day-to-day payment services; enhancing financial literacy among children via Revolut Junior; innovations including Open Banking and SEPA Instant transfers, benefiting consumers and business. The value to policy-makers of Revolut consumer spending data. Potential adoption across society of modern technology and payment solutions to the benefit of citi

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Lowry', 'role': 'Chief Information Officer (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Citizenship for undocumented children born in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'All members of the Seanad were sent a briefing note ahead of a debate on December 2nd, about the situation of undocumented children growing up in Ireland; briefing note included international best practice and our recommendations.'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lisa Chambers', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Sharon Keogan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} + 7 more

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Finance] Pre Budget meeting to secure adequate provosion for older people reliant on State Pension.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Health] Bilateral Meeting with Dept Health officials with the Community & Voluntary Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Desmond', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

TPA Research

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Transport] EU Recovery Fund, Provision of light rail services in regional cities, Use of hydrogen for rail services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': "Kieran O'Donnell", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Social Protection] DCU Launch of reports National Anti-Bulling Research & Resource Centre

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Social Protection] Bilateral Meeting with Dept Social protection officials and delegates from the Community & Voluntary Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tim Duggan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Community] Bilateral Meeting with DRCD officials and delegates from the Community & Voluntary Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

September–December

[Health] Meeting with Minister Mary Butler (Mental health & Older People) and the Age Alliance NGO's

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Irish Environmental Network

September–December

[Environment] Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Highlighted issues with regard to public participation in respect of the Aarhus Convention to members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, citing need for adequate timeframes and the need to hear from a range of expert witnesses as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process; suggested topics to cover in support of the Aarhus Convention.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Pauline O'Reilly", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Bríd Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 9 more

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

January–April

[EU Affairs] Meeting with MEP's in Brussles to discuss items that impact busienss, supports for busienss and also to launch the Chamber Manifesto for Europe with the upcoming elections in May. The manifesto discusses s number of key areas and calls to action. The plan discussed, Irelands place in Eurpoe, A Europe tht investigates in its cities and regions, Global Trade, Taxation, Digital Europe, Circular Economy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Brian Hayes', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Vintners' Federation of Ireland

January–April

[Local Government] Fine Gael's local election manifesto proposal to establish "night mayors" in towns and cities.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs