Overwatch Report

Age Action

January–April

[Social Protection] to highlight the income inadequacy of older people who depend on social welfare payments during COVID-19 and request adequate response measures to address same

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Road Haulage Association

January–April

[Transport] Derogation of driving and rest times under Article 14(2) of Regulation 561/2006

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'John Carroll', 'role': 'Head of Unit (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': "Ray O'Leary", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Graham Doyle', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'}

Irish Road Haulage Association

January–April

[Transport] Driver Welfare as essential workers, provision of single cabins for drivers on ferries due to Pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Michael Creed', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Age Action

January–April

[Justice and Equality] As part of the CV Pillar bilateral meeting to discuss the delays in the commencement of the Assisted Decision Making Act

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Discussion referencing the “Maritime Planning and Framework Development Bill” in the context of supporting a decarbonisation agenda through enabling of development of off- shore wind

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Road Haulage Association

May–August

[Transport] Measures to protect drivers during pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Road Haulage Association

January–April

[Transport] Measures to assist haualge operators through the pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'John Carroll', 'role': 'Head of Unit (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

Irish Road Haulage Association

January–April

[Transport] Communication of industry priorities in the context of election manifestos

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Dermot Looney', 'role': 'Councillor (South Dublin County Council)'}

Irish Road Haulage Association

January–April

[Transport] Derogation of driving and rest times under Article 14(2) of Regulation 561/2006

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': "Ray O'Leary", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'}

Restaurants Association of Ireland

January–April

[Social Protection] Engaging with Minister and DEASP to ensure COVID wage supports (Pandemic Unemployment Payment) would be available for all employees and employers during the lockdown and thereafter

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Financial Services Union

January–April

[Employment] Letter sent to all TDs prior to General election on FSU agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All TDs', 'role': 'Letter set out FSU priorities prior to the February General election-the right to disconnect, bank branch closures and gender pay reporting.'}

Center for Independent Living

January–April

[Health] accessible formats including public service announcements in Irish Sign Language, Easy to read and accessible documents that can be used by screen readers for people with visual impairments and provision of Personal Assistance to disabled people during Covid19

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Limelight Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Transport] Issues facing Travel Agents in particular relating to the Package Travel Directive and Consumer Protection Measures

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niall Burgess', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

January–April

[Agriculture] Meeting with Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine to lobby for policy support for agri sourced biomethane and support for AD in reducing emissions in the full supply chain of food production. Up to 85% of carbon footprint on food production comes from on farm practices & land management. The Climate Action Plan MACC misrepresented agri sourced biomethane as an outlier at €377/tCO2, RGFI MACC range of between €78-130/tCO2.Food & drinks industries have mandatory carbon neu

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Gleeson', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Bill Callanan', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Pender & Associates Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Health] Engagement with Dept. of Health re. use of ethanol for hand sanitiser

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fergal Goodman', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

Edelman Ireland

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Tourism] Communicating on proposed future government intentions around platform regulation following public statements and media coverage of same.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Feargal Purcell (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Government Press Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': "Jack O'Donnell", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Irish Road Haulage Association

January–April

[Employment] Proposed amendments to workplace relations legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clancourt Management

January–April

[Development and Zoning] SDRA 18

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Shakespeare', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Mannix Flynn', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel invited Kevin McCarthy to address member organisations and to engage in discussion with The Wheel CEO Deirdre Garvey at the Annual Summit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'The Wheel emailed all TDs who supported our manifesto standing in the 2020 general election on 5 February 2020 . The full manifesto can be read at: https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/stronger-communities/4asks.'} {'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Kinia

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Invitation to TechFeile Irish Language event

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Kyne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Pat Breen', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

AGL Arcadia Management Company Limited

May–August

[Development and Zoning] Zoning & Development in accordance with the Local Area Plan & Town Plans

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Kehoe', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Westmeath County Council)'} {'name': 'Frankie Keena', 'role': 'Councillor (Westmeath County Council)'}

County Kildare Chamber

May–August

[Finance] Specific query in relation to the temporary wage subsidy scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ibec

May–August

[EU Affairs] Message to EU Presidents on Recovery Plan

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tom Hanney', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Maeve Collins', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Philip Kelly', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': "Aingeal O'Donoghue", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

AONTAS

May–August

[Education and Training] Letter sent to the 13 Irish MEPs seeking their support for lobbying the European Commission to continue with the European Agenda for Adult Learning (EAAL) beyond 2021.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cuffe', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Clare Daly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Chris MacManus', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 7 more

Rape Crisis Network Ireland

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Matters pertaining to child protection, the age of consent and the defilement of children law

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Rape Crisis Network Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Sexual Violence legisaltive reform agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Oonagh McPhillips', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland

May–August

[Heritage] 4th May fire at Belcamp 18th century house, a Protected Structure

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'AnnMarie Farrelly', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Fingal County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Continuation of The Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond August. Expansion of Online Trading Vouchers through LEO and broaden the criteria through which they can be applied for. More grants for businesses impacted by Covid 19, not loans. Offer a Business Transition Voucher or a Business Sustainability Voucher acknowledging how businesses have had to pivot to stay relevant during Covid 19.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Liam Brazil', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Tom Cronin', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Declan Doocey', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Damien Geoghegan', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat Nugent', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': "Seamus O'Donnell", 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'} + 13 more

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Continuation of The Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond August. Expansion of Online Trading Vouchers through LEO and broaden the criteria through which they can be applied for. More grants for businesses impacted by Covid 19, not loans. Continuation of Business Continuity Vouchers.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Matt Shanahan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

County Wexford Chamber of Industry and Commerce CLG

May–August

[Tourism] Wexford is a county which is highly dependent on tourism and the impact of the loss of the tourist season this year has yet to be fully realised. Our members highlighted the reduction of the VAT rate as critically important to enable them to survive the economic shock. In addition, there is a call for funding to develop virtual experiences within our local tourism attractions to encourage footfall among other things.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs