Overwatch Report

Natural Capital Ireland

September–December

[Environment] Series of tweets/Facebook posts advocating for use of Natural Capital Accounting to protect nature and biodiversity in Ireland regarding the following events, consultations and projects: the Biodiversity Action Plan Consultation, the Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit, the NPWS Strategy Statement Consultation, The ForES project, the Cop15 summit. In-person: NCI SC Chair Conor Kretsch briefly spoke to Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan about our work at the Heritage 2030 Summit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Pippa Hackett', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

September–December

[Agriculture] Kerry Patronage Shares

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

GENERALI SEGUROS Y REASEGUROS S.A.

September–December

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Ministerial meeting with Minister of State Sean Fleming on 6th October, at the request of the Department of Finance, to update and discuss progress to date on insurance sector reforms. Liberty Representatives included: Stuart Trotter, Eoin Lennon, Roseanne Regan and Ciaran O’Boyle. It involved one meeting and approx. 4 emails just to arrange the time, agenda etc.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sean Fleming', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Finance)'}

MSD

September–December

[Health] Reimbursement of innovative oncology medicines and establishment of a National Medicines Agency

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Pádraig O'Sullivan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Inspections of Early Years and School Age Care settings

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Harold Hislop', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Education)'} {'name': 'Anne Marie Brooks', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Bernie McNally', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Education)'}

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Employment Regulation Order for staff in early years and school age care settings

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Reported delays in PPS number for early years and school age care staff

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Marie Brooks', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Engineers Ireland

September–December

[Heritage] Communication with Chair, Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Coillte CGA

September–December

[Agriculture] Engagement on Coillte's strategic vision, the multiple benefits of forestry and the role of educational programmes in promoting environmental awareness and science.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

KPMG

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Environment] We engaged with the various designated public officials within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (the “Department”) listed below in relation to the development of Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). A draft of the NBAP was circulated to the individuals below for comment as part of a process stakeholder engagement.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Fiona Quinn', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Maria Graham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Feargal Ó Coigligh', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Niall Ó'Donnchú", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Eoin Moran', 'role': 'Director (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} + 1 more

Uplift

September–December

[Housing] Engagement with Tainiste and Minister for Housing on issues related to housing policy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Thoracic Society

September–December

[Health] Issues impacting the care of people with lung disease particularly staffing shortages and infrastructural challenges in pulmonary function laboratories, reducing access to timely diagnosis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Invitiation to a meet and greet/briefing event on issues affecting the care of people with lung diseae to mark World Lung Day. This included data on deaths as a result of lung related illness and comments on the infrastructural challenges that hamper access to timely diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care.'} {'name': 'Ciaran Cannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Fergus O'Dowd", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 18 more

Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd

September–December

[Education and Training] Discussion on Dream Space expansion and wider digital skills agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciarán Conlon (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'}

Irish Association of Pension Funds

September–December

[Social Protection] We met to discuss the issues of State Pension Age, Automatic Enrolment, the Pensions Commission and the Interdepartmental Group on Pensions Reform & Taxation.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Kevin Barrett', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Engineers Ireland

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] High Voltage Safety

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Bartra Capital Property Management Limited trading as Bartra Capital Property

September–December

[Housing] Emergency accommodation for Ukrainian and other refugees

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Danny McLoughlin', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (South Dublin County Council)'}

Irish Funds Industry Association CLG

September–December

[EU Affairs] EU Legislative Agenda & Key Priorities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Fleming', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Bartra Capital Property Management Limited trading as Bartra Capital Property

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Commentary in relation to the Green Infrastructure Requirements in the South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2022-2028

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Mulhern', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (South Dublin County Council)'}

Apple Distribution International Ltd.

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Introductory meeting to discuss Apple's approach to privacy, Ireland's National Digital Strategy, and the EU Digital Services Act package

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Irish Georgian Society

September–December

[Heritage] Restoration works to DOneraile Court, Co. Cork

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Rosemary Collier', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (The Office of Public Works)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] A follow up letter to Siobhan McArdle post the meeting on the 29th November. Thanked the officials for the meeting and While there has been positive engagement, we are extremely concerned at the fact that the Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme is gravely insufficient in the current climate and, as discussed, the very grave consequences of failure to address the funding crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Siobhán McArdle', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association

September–December

[Agriculture] During the period in question the ITBA engaged with both politicians and officials to ensure equine was included in Tams. Ongoing engagement regarding the Brexit Adjustment Reserve was undertaken. The subject of work permits for non-EU residents was also undertaken

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Barry Cassidy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

September–December

[Education and Training] Funding for Sexual Violence and Harassment Prevention and Response Manager in RCSI

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association

September–December

[Health] Security of energy supply in the context of the war on Ukraine and the biopharmaceutical industry's exposure to any potential outages.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Oliver O'Connor (Former DPO)", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'} {'name': "Oliver O'Connor (Former DPO)", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Bernard Mallee (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Bernard Mallee (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Ronnie Downes', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Rural Regeneration Funding, Town Centre First, Development of Tourist Office, Parking, Age Friendly town - age friendly parking

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joanne Grehan', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'John Cribbin', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] To inform the Deputies of the delays in the Pandemic Special Recognition Payment to nursing home staff in private and voluntary nursing homes and it now 11 months since the announcement and NHI have previously communicated with the HSE and the Department to outline our outrage with the manner in which this process has been managed from the start and we intend to now issue further communication to them to outline our frustration at this further delay.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marian Harkin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] Met virtually with Deputy Smith to brief the Labour health spokesperson on the crisis in the nursing home sector and also outlined to him the crisis in staffing due to private and voluntary nursing homes being unbale to match the wage rates of the HSE.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Representative Church Body

September–December

[Education and Training] Additional Resources for Schools under Church of Ireland Patronage.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bernie McNally', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Education)'}

Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce & Industry Company Limited by Guarantee

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] N24 and N25 projects; Kilkenny Ring Road completion; Importance of having a Kilkenny campus as part of the new SETU; Town Centre First initiative; Appointment of Town Regeneration Officer; Mobility Strategy and learnings from current temporary one-way traffic scheme in the city centre; • Commercial Rates review; Energy Security; Housing crisis; Skills and Talent crisis; Age Friendly Business initiative; Support for Yulefest

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sean MCKeown', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Kilkenny County Council)'} {'name': 'Tim Butler', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Kilkenny County Council)'}

Cedar Lending Services Limited

September–December

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Irish Banking and Mortgage Market - with regard to Retail Banking Review Competition and Consumer Protection Commission approval of retail banking transactions

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs