Overwatch Report

Insurance Ireland

January–April

[Banking and Financial Institutions] On behalf of members, making proposals in relation to the review of Packaged Retail and Insurance-Based Investment Products (PRIIPs) legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Galway Harbour Company

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Meeting held with City Manager and City Officials to discuss URDF

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan McGrath', 'role': 'CEO (Galway City Council)'}

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Invitation to Pre-Election Childcare in Crisis Meeting in SIPTU Offices on 29th January. This meeting is open to members of the Big Start Campaign and all early years teachers, managers and providers.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lisa Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michelle Mulherin', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Rose Conway-Walsh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

January–April

[Social Protection] Lobbying to stop the planned increase in State Pension Age.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 25 more

Ibec

January–April

[Local Government] Engagement on local government priorities, funding and planned reforms

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Quinlan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'}

Ibec

January–April

[Local Government] Enhanced engagement between business and the local government sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Quinlan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'}

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

January–April

[Finance] Maternity leave and the Temporary Wage Subsidy

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

January–April

[Employment] Working Family Payment and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Communications] 19/3/20 – Irish Postmasters' Union: Issue of news release 'Covid 19 – Post Offices to remain open and adapt measures for safe usage' circulated to all TDs.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all TDs as an FYI.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Health] 8/4/2020: Sage Advocacy – News release 'Covid-19: Sage Advocacy welcomes new banking supports' circulated to all TDs and Senators

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release circulated to all Oireachtas members as an FYI.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Health] 12/4/2020: Sage Advocacy – News release 'Covid-19: Nursing and Home Care challenges show need for new single-tier care system' circulated to all TDs.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release circulated to all TDs as an FYI.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Health] 19/4/2020: Sage Advocacy – News release 'Covid 19 / Nursing Homes: Need for a new approach to long-term care welcomed' circulated to all TDs.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release circulated to all TDs as an FYI.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Health] 5/5/2020: Sage Advocacy – News release: 'Call to end use of term ‘Next of Kin’ in health and social services' circulated to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release circulated to all Oireachtas members as an FYI.'}

Ibec

January–April

[Employment] Priorities for a Wage Subsidy Scheme in repsonse to COVID-19

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Robert Troy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Uplift

January–April

[Housing] Uplift members emailed TD asking them to ensure that appropriate protections are put in place during and after the Covid-19 healthcare emergency to protect renters and tenants whose mortgages have been bought up by vulture funds and that neither of these groups will be subject to mortgage or rent arrears once the crisis is over

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': '530 emails sent'}

National Safeguarding Ireland

January–April

[Health] Letter re Joint Framework Document published by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael urging inclusion in Joint Framework document full enactment of the Assisted Decision Making Capacity Act (2015); introduction of Adult Safeguarding legislation; a review of the current model of care for older people; supporting people to maximise their independence as they age; to respect the dignity of people as they age.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

National Safeguarding Ireland

January–April

[Health] Letter to An Taoiseach; Minister for Health; Chair NPHET Vulnerable People Sub-Group; HSE requesting intensified and proactive level of contact with the non-HSE nursing homes, including the independent nursing homes which are not affiliated to any specific agency, by designated personnel to offer advice and support, and to monitor and respond to particular challenges during Covid crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Kathleen MacLellan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

Image Learning and Development Training Network, company Limited by Guarantee T/A HABIC

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Impacts of COVID-19 on the Hair an Beauty Industry and the Economic Supports Required

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Heather Humpreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Declan Hughes', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Pascal Dohoghue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Thomas Walsh', 'role': 'Councillor (Sligo County Council)'}

National Safeguarding Ireland

January–April

[Health] Letter to An Taoiseach outlining concerns for adults at risk of abuse during during Covid crisis especially in terms of language used; the likely greater needs of services by older people; respect for peoples' decision-making rights; flexibility needed for people in trying to pay bills; and to be aware of higher risks of financial abuse.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Property Owners Association of Ireland Limited (IPOA)

January–April

[Finance] Some non bank lenders are not engaging with customers and facilitating Mortgage Breaks, which is causing financial difficulties where tenants are not currently in a position to pay rent.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Eoghan Murphy', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'}

Irish Institutional Property

May–August

[Employment] Engagement with Government on Roadmap for Reopening of retail outlets

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pat Farrell (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Declan Hughes', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Ed Brophy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Des Carville', 'role': 'Head of Unit (Department of Finance)'} + 4 more

Irish Institutional Property

January–April

[Housing] Engagement with DHPLG on proposed support for residential tenants during COVID 19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pat Farrell (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Eoghan Murphy', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Paul Lemass', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Paul Melia', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'}

Bere Island projects Group CLG

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Tourism] Lobbied Michael Collins TD regarding a compensation package for island businesses effected by Covid 19. Islands will not open to non residents until 10th August therefore they are at a further disadvantage to similar businesses on the mainland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Development Education Association

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Des Hennelly attended a Dochas Q&A meeting with MEPs on 24th February 2020. (Francis Fitzgerald, Maria Walsh, Mairead McGuiness and Barry Andrews). Des spoke from the floor to emphasise the importance of SDG Target 4.7 to the whole SDG agenda.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Irish Development Education Association

January–April

[Education and Training] On 9th March 2020, Des Hennelly attended a briefing of Civil Society organisations engaged with the SDGs on The European Semester of the National Reform Programme. He spoke to emphasise the importance of Target 4.7 to achieving the whole SDG agenda. A written submission was subsequently made to the process.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Philip Hamell', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Fórsa trade union

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Lobbying during the lead up to the general election to encourage political parties to adopt policy items into their political party manifesto and to bring those items to discussions onprogramme for government. This included legislation and in some cases, would have a budgetary impact.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin Donoghue (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Mass email sent to all TDs on 25th February inviting them to a briefing in the TDs AV room on the 19th March. The event was subsequently cancelled.'} {'name': 'Ed Brophy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 29 more

Noel Dempsey Consulting

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Local Government] Updating Waste Management Policy and recycling

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Noel Dempsey (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Volkswagen Group Ireland Limited

January–April

[Tourism] Lobbying to Minister Heather Humphreys re:deferral of PAYE and VAT payments during COVID-19 outbreak

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

Vodafone Ireland

January–April

[EU Affairs] To outline the Vodafone position regarding competition law reform in the digital age, free flow of data as part of any Future Trade Agreement; and to brief on our IoT Regulatory Framework White Paper.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

January–April

[Social Protection] Letter concerning issues regarding informal insolvency and impact on low wage migrant workers accessing the Insolvency Payments Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs