Overwatch Report

ALONE

September–December

[Health] National Positive Ageing Strategy, home support services, health services for older people

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Patricia Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland

September–December

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Implementation of Basel iii changes on the EU Banking Package

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Oliver Gilvarry', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Community and Voluntary Pillar bilateral meeting with DSP

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

RGDATA

September–December

[Environment] Introduction of a levy on single use beverage cups.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

MABS Support Company Limited by Guarantee

September–December

[Social Protection] Lobbied for on-going funding for the Dedicated Mortgage Arrears (DMA) programme run by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Attendance as a NESC representative for the Community and Voluntary Pillar 15 December 2023

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Fraser', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Brief on matters of concern in particular on the issue of access to adequate, sustainable funding and supports for 'Section 56' agencies

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland

September–December

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Implementation of the Basel iii Banking Package

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Macra na Feirme

September–December

[Agriculture] Lough Funshinagh Flooding issue and the need to find drainage solutions for the farmers and communities effected

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eugene Murphy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Cork Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Housing Agency's Annual Conference

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Retail Excellence Ireland

September–December

[Employment] Minimum wage, living wage and cost of living

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maurice Quinlivan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Q4PR

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Engagement with Dublin City elected members regarding Dublin City Development Plan and information sharing regarding Dublin 8 development project

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Máire Devine', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Pidgeon', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Watters', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Darragh Moriarty', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Cronin', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Housing] Housing policy for older people, Housing Choices for our Ageing Population Joint Policy Statement

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] In September 2022, JRS Ireland submitted a Briefing Paper, entitled "Age Disputed UAMs – Well founded fear of Age Assessment?", to Tusla, the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and departmental officials.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'David Delaney', 'role': 'Director (Department of Justice)'}

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] In November 2022, a joint letter was issued by the Irish Refugee Council and JRS Ireland, calling on senior officials in Tusla and the International Protection Office to progress discussions in relation to highlighted concerns and shortfalls in the age assessment process for age disputed unaccompanied minors.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Delaney', 'role': 'Director (Department of Justice)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Engagement with An Taoiseach regarding the need for ongoing social dialogue and the impact of the cost of living crisis as part of the Community and Voluntary Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Budgetary matters] The announcement in the Budget of a 0% VAT rate for newspapers but not periodicals and magazines created anomalies.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] JRS Ireland engaged in discussions, with senior officials in Tusla and the International Protection Office, in relation to serious concerns and shortfalls in the current age assessment process for age disputed unaccompanied minors.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Delaney', 'role': 'Director (Department of Justice)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Engagement with elected officials and senior civil servants regarding measure to protect low income households from rising energy costs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Niall Egan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Anne Marie McNally', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Retailers of tobacco products are obliged by law to sell cigarettes at retail prices determined by tobacco companies . We want the Finance Act 1995 amended to remove the criminal offence the Act provides for.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maria Byrne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Fiona O'Connor", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Engagement with elected representatives and senior civil servants on the implementation of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Anne Marie McNally', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Niall Egan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Environment] Retailers of hot beverages need to have clarity on the extent that the Levy being considered will apply to other warm foodstuffs such as soup and deli products

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Mag Mell Energy Ireland Ltd.

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Meeting with Billy Kelleher MEP to discuss his call on the Irish Government to consider Floating Storage Regasification Units to enable LNG to be imported into the country and how the Mag Mell project supports this ambition.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

J.P. Morgan SE

September–December

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Review of Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael J. McGrath', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Engagement with elected officials seeking changes to the Social Welfare Bill in regard to Budget 2023 measures

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Email to all oireachtas members with a copy of the National One Parent Family Alliance analysis of budget 2023 and recommendations to the amend the Social Welfare Bill'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Respond

September–December

[Housing] Social and Cost Rental Delivery: Challenges facing AHB's and tenants due to cost of living increases and inflation. Local Authorities should support, in full, independently acquired market rent evaluations provided by AHBs for CALF schemes to deliver social homes, while awaiting the agreement of the CALF/P&A Review which is currently being undertaken by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. A mechanism to assist with cash flow issues experienced by AHBs with CREL pr

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Caroline Timmons', 'role': 'Acting Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Kevin Dillon', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

Respond

September–December

[Housing] Partnership initiative with the Global Brain Health Institute in Trinity College and Respond, Specifically the Brain Health Village Pilot Initiative

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Frank Feighan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Wind Energy Ireland

September–December

[Environment] Resources for State agencies to support the delivery of renewable energy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Kevin Dillon', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 33 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Housing] Engagement with the Minister for Housing and Department of Housing as part of the National Homeless Action Committee

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Graham Doyle', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

National Adult Literacy Agency

September–December

[Education and Training] How the Department of Social Protection (DSP) could use a literacy-friendly approach and how to support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs who are using social protection services.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fiona Penollar', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs