Overwatch Report

An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland

January–April

[Heritage] Letters with pre-budget submission

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] The Wheel's Senior Sector Skills Policy Manager emailed Minister Marian Harkin, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, about the skills and training needs of the community and voluntary sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Emer Currie TD to discuss patronage reconfiguration and ask for support to advocate for progress on reconfiguration, including advancing the proposed survey of parents.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Emer Currie', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Darren O'Rourke TD to discuss challenges in school choice, the need for new schools, and the importance of advancing patronage reconfiguration. Also discussed the parent survey, funding issues, and communication needs around the process.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik TD and Education Spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD to discuss current challenges facing Educate Together and the political importance of patronage reconfiguration.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Minister Moynihan in his office at his request. Advocated for a more inclusive education system, improved supports for mainstream schools and school leaders, discussed patronage reconfiguration, and requested support for the planned national survey of parents.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Moynihan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

Age Action

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Letter to political party leaders about the development of the Programme for Government

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Age Action

January–April

[Health] Discussion of Programme for Government commitment

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Kieran O'Donnell", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Age Action

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Strategy for Women and Girls

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Age Action

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Conlan', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary General (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

January–April

[Taxation] Letters from Revenue to many members advising the discontinuation of a system that allows for monthly payments of VAT liabilities, balanced by way of on an Annual accounting has a significant additional financial and administrative burden. This has not been assessed from a Cost to Business perspective.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

State Street International (Ireland) Limited

January–April

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Savings and Investments Union initiatives at the EU level. Funds 2030 reforms agenda.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Retailers Against Smuggling

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Request to place smuggling and enforcement to tackle illicit trade on the committee agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mairéad Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

St Patrick's Mental Health Services

January–April

[Health] The SPMHS advocacy manager was a co-signatory to a letter to the incoming Government calling for active and public transport to be prioritised and highlighting the public health benefits of same.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Novo Nordisk Limited

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Government, MEPs and public officials regarding the life-sciences sector in Ireland and the EU General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL) including two roundtable events.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Grace Cappock (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)'} {'name': 'Muiris O’Connor', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 7 more

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Cllr Isobel Towse in Clonakilty to provide an overview of Educate Together, explain the patronage reconfiguration process.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Isobel Towse', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork County Council)'}

St Patrick's Mental Health Services

January–April

[Health] The SPMHS advocacy manager was a co-signatory to a letter to city and county councillors about the need to prioritise healthy, sustainable forms of home heating and to raise awareness of the harmful health impacts of solid fuel burning in homes.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Councillors', 'role': 'Sent in April 2025.'}

David Curtin & Co Ltd

January–April

[Health] Invite members of the Dail, Seanad and MEPs to meet Dr Karl Fagerström and Ms Suely Castro, director of the international platform Quit Like Swedenwho were due to come to Dublin on 28th May. to discuss how Ireland can achieve a smoke free status by 2040.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Show how, over the past 15 years, Sweden has reduced smoking rates from 15% to just 5.3% and became close to achieve smoke-free status – which global public health experts define as a smoking prevalence of no more than 5% of the adult population – 15 years ahead of the EU’s 2040 target.'} {'name': 'Email All MEPs', 'role': 'Show how, over the past 15 years, Sweden has reduced smoking rates from 15% to just 5.3% and became close to achieve smoke-free status – which global public health experts define as a smoking prevalence of no more than 5% of the adult population – 15 years ahead of the EU’s 2040 target.'} {'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pádraig Rice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dublin Zoo

January–April

[Heritage] Organised meetings at Dublin Zoo to build relationships. Signing of MoU between Dublin Zoo and NPWS. Invited MEP to a meeting to discuss Dublin Zoo's breeding programmes..

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Shakespeare', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': "Christopher O'Sullivan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Kevin Boxer Moran', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Niall Ó'Donnchú", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Ltd

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Storm Damage to Co-op Retail Premises

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alan Dillon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Michael Healy-Rae', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Insurance Ireland

January–April

[Banking and Financial Institutions] On behalf of members, to engage with the Central Bank of Ireland on issues pertinent to the sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Adrian Varley', 'role': 'Director (Central Bank of Ireland)'} {'name': 'Colm Kincaid', 'role': 'Director (Central Bank of Ireland)'} {'name': 'Derville Rowland', 'role': 'Deputy Governor (Central Bank of Ireland)'} {'name': 'Domhnall Cullinan', 'role': 'Director (Central Bank of Ireland)'} {'name': 'Gerry Cross', 'role': 'Director (Central Bank of Ireland)'} {'name': 'Mary Elizabeth McMunn', 'role': 'Deputy Governor (Central Bank of Ireland)'} + 2 more

Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited

January–April

[Banking and Financial Institutions] EU Savings & Investment Union / Funds 2030 agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gerry Cross', 'role': 'Director (Central Bank of Ireland)'}

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

January–April

[Health] College CAMHS Governance and Management Structure proposal

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited

January–April

[Banking and Financial Institutions] EU Savings & Investment Union / Funds 2030 agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Helping Irish Hosts CLG

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with DCEDIY regarding the non-renewal of our Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Irish Red Cross (IRC) and the future of service delivery arrangements for hosting Ukrainian refugees.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Conor Rowley', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Volunteering Ireland

January–April

[Community] Post Election Engagement Letter 1

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Brophy', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'}

BiggerStage

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] The development of the unscripted production sector in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Byrne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Pharmacy Union

January–April

[Health] Engagement Framework

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niall Redmond', 'role': 'Acting Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

Volunteering Ireland

January–April

[Community] Post Election Engagement Letter 2

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Volunteering Ireland

January–April

[Community] Post Election Engagement Letter 3

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs