Overwatch Report

Law Society of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Covid-19 - Ongoing engagement with the Courts Service

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Angela Denning', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Courts Service)'} {'name': 'Peter Mullan', 'role': 'Head of Directorate (The Courts Service)'} {'name': 'Geraldine Hurley', 'role': 'Head of Directorate (The Courts Service)'} {'name': 'Seán Quigley', 'role': 'Head of Directorate (The Courts Service)'}

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland

January–April

[Taxation] COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Declan Rigney', 'role': 'Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

County Kildare Chamber

January–April

[Local Government] Engagement re SPC's in Kildare and the Chambers involvement

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Peter Carey', 'role': 'CEO (Kildare County Council)'}

BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (DUBLIN) LIMITED

January–April

[Finance] Update the Department of Finance of the impact Covid crisis on various market sectors.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

AONTAS

January–April

[Education and Training] Conversations by email and phone to Assistant Secretary General Dalton Tattan regarding mitigating educational disadvantage during the COVID-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dalton Tattan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)'}

AONTAS

January–April

[Education and Training] Conversations by email and phone to Assistant Secretary General William Beausang regarding mitigating educational disadvantage during the COVID-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)'}

Unite the Union, Ireland Region

January–April

[Finance] Anomalies in the operation of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Travel Agents Association

January–April

[Transport] Seeking financial support for the travel industry during COVID-19 pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Irish Travel Agents Association

January–April

[Transport] Travel advice

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Ibec

January–April

[Social Protection] Legislation relating to wage subsidy scheme and COVID-19 social welfare payments

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Travel Agents Association

January–April

[Transport] Request a meeting to discuss travel advice

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niall Burgess', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Ibec

January–April

[Finance] Ibec priorities for a package of business liquidity measures in respose to COVID-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Derek Moran', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Gary Tobin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Paul Ryan', 'role': 'Director (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'John Hogan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Emma Cunningham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'John McCarthy', 'role': 'Chief Economist (Department of Finance)'} + 4 more

Ibec

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Ibec priorities for a package of business liquidity measures in respose to COVID-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pauric McPhillips', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Ltd

January–April

[Agriculture] Aids to Private Storage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Chris MacManus', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Irish Wildbird Conservancy

January–April

[Heritage] Seeking more action to safeguard hedgerows and the breeding birds they support

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niall Ó Donnchú', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Minister Simon Harris for the discussion and advancement of nursing home care during COVID-19 emergency in several key requirement areas. Engagement was undertaken to ensure nursing homes are positioned to meet the care needs of residents during the national health emergency. The key requirement were principally around procurement of PPE, additional staffing supports where required, additional funding and a comprehensive testing regime for residents and staff of nursing

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Minister Jim Daly re General Election 2020 and also regarding COVID-19 and critical supports required to enable nursing homes be supported to meet the care needs of residents during Covid-19.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Daly', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, stating requirement for enhanced funding support under the Nursing Home Support Scheme to ensure nursing homes are financially supported to implement measures required to manage Covid-19.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Travel Agents Association

January–April

[Transport] Seek clarification of insolvency protection for package organisers as per request from Commissioner Reynders

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

Bartra Capital Property Management Limited trading as Bartra Capital Property

January–April

[Housing] Exploration of different solutions in the housing and healthcare sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Ní Fhloinn', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'}

Coillte CGA

January–April

[Agriculture] Felling Licences: To engage with the Department and the Forest Service regarding felling licences and to encourage the Department to implement an effective Forestry Appeals Committee process

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Hayes', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Michael Creed', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Kathleen MacLellan, Department of Health Assistant Secretary, Social Care Division on insurance costs, COVID-19 guidance, contingency planning, procurement of PPE, admission of patients from hospital settings, financial support and staffing supports required for nursing homes to meet the care needs of residents during Covid-19

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kathleen MacLellan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

P. J. Carroll & Company Ltd

January–April

[Health] Email to all TDs providing an overview of Public Health England's annual report which criticised the "false fears" about the relative risks of vaping, fears and misconceptions which they believe are preventing more smokers from making the switch to vaping. PHE stated that using vaping products has a small fraction of the risks of smoking, and that smokers should be encouraged to try them.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': "The extensive evidence update also looked at the issue of youth vaping, and found that less than 1% of young people in the UK who have never smoked are current vapers, a statistic which also rang true for adult vapers.\n\nThese findings provide clear evidence that vaping products are being used by those who they are intended for: adults smokers looking for a viable alternative to tobacco. In addition, PHE's research found that flavoured vaping products play an important role for adult users, as many vapers said that a ban on such products would deter them from using vaping as an alternative to smoking.\n\nThe Healthy Ireland 2019 Report stated that use of vaping among non-smokers stood at just 1%, the same rate as in the UK. Healthy Ireland also showed that the vaping rate among ex-smokers in Ireland increased by 30% over the previous year."}

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Laura Magahy seeking meeting to discuss requirements for nursing homes under Sláintecare.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Laura Magahy', 'role': 'Executive Manager (Department of Health)'}

PROVIDENCE RESOURCES PLC

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] To give a better understanding of the benefits of the Development of Barryroe field for reduction in Carbon Imports, local jobs and potential tax revenues and maintain power network stability. To ensure that a clear message is made in connection with gas exploration as a transition fuel.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Stop Climate Chaos coalition

January–April

[Environment] A grassroots campaign to encourage TDs to ensure that climate action is central to economic recovery plans, party negotiations on government formation & the Programme for Government

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'A grassroots campaign took place on 16th of April 2020.'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Engagement with Ministers and Senior Officials to ensure sufficient supports are provided to households assisted by SVP impacted financially or otherwise by the Covid-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui McCrum', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Katherine Zappone', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} + 6 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

January–April

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with election officials and candidates on SVP priorities for the next Programme for Government

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Email to all members of the Oireachtas asking that they make an end to poverty a priority during and after the Covid-19 crisis. We requested that as legislators they introduce a Poverty Reduction Act which makes poverty targets legally binding. \n\n6th of April 2020'} {'name': 'Social Media All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Social media campaign asking candidates to sign up to SVP’s election priorities including the introduction of a Poverty Act, increased build and supply of social and affordable housing, cost-rental model of housing, free primary and secondary education, enhanced supports for third level students and benchmarking social welfare and the national minimum wage against the cost of a Minimum Essential Standard of Living\n\nCampaign ran from the 17th of Jan to the 31st of Jan'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Senator Colm Burke re General Election 2020.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

RGDATA

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Policy to support the regeneration of towns and villages.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Coghlan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs