Overwatch Report

County Wexford Chamber of Industry and Commerce CLG

May–August

[Social Protection] As part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on our members we championed a project namely Reviving Wexford. We invited businesses from all over County Wexford to identify (1) their biggest challenges in fighting the economic impact, (2) the supports they most would benefit from, and (3) the actions they would consider critical to revive the Wexford economy. You will see that continuation of the Wage Subsidy Scheme is identified as a critical element of

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'}

County Wexford Chamber of Industry and Commerce CLG

May–August

[Finance] You will see that cashflow is a cause of great concern, as is the need for the waiving of rates and the continuation of the Wage Subsidy Scheme. There is a strong call for a reduction in VAT, and this is particularly relevant in a county such as Wexford with a high dependency on the Tourism and Hospitality Sectors.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

County Wexford Chamber of Industry and Commerce CLG

May–August

[Trade] You will see that cashflow was a cause of great concern, as was the need for the waiving of rates and the continuation of the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

May–August

[Development and Zoning] Discussion on the revitalisation of town centres and how we need to work to move this forward. It is vital that we look at ways and means to encourage more people to return to living in the town centres where we have considerable cavant property. It may be necessary to incentivist people to live in towns, likewise there may be a need for incentives towards returning vacant premises to conditions suitable for living in.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fergal Browne', 'role': 'Councillor (Carlow County Council)'} {'name': "Tom O'Neill", 'role': 'Councillor (Carlow County Council)'} {'name': 'John McDonald', 'role': 'Councillor (Carlow County Council)'}

An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland

May–August

[Heritage] National Monuments Act

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Sisters of Mercy

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] A Zoom call with Maria Walsh MEP to discuss Human Trafficking in Ireland. The trafficking in Persons Report and Ireland's presence on the Security Council despite being on a two tier watch list with the US State Department. An exploration of support was engaged in

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Restaurants Association of Ireland

May–August

[Tourism] June - meeting with Deputy Doherty to discuss concerns of Restaurant and wider Tourism industry including; commercial leases, wage supports, need for sector specific grants, to give ind feedback on proposed tourism voucher scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] To reinstate Proprietary Directors to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Matt Shanahan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)

May–August

[Education and Training] a letter to Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor regarding English language students and their classes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Mitchell O’Connor', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education and Skills)'}

Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)

May–August

[Justice and Equality] a letter to charles flanagan on English language students

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charles Flanagan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)'} {'name': 'Oonagh Buckley', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'} {'name': 'Michael Kirrane', 'role': 'Director General (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)

May–August

[Social Protection] Asked Minster for Social Protection to make sure that exceptional needs payements be made available and information on covid-19 would be made available in different languages

Public Officials Lobbied

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

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

May–August

[Health] A staff member at a local rural restaurant recently tested positive for COVID. The owners closed the restaurant as a precaution as soon as they were notified. Tried to access testing or support from HSE, Contact Tracing etc but were told that they were not on the list. Locally message was that team member at restaurant tested positive

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Robert Troy', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Ibec

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Niall Cody', 'role': 'Chairman (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education

May–August

[Education and Training] Provision of July Education Programme fro students with special educational needs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dalton Tattan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Aoife Conduit', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'}

National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education

May–August

[Education and Training] Safe return for schools providing education for pupils and issues for special schools and classes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education and Skills)'}

County Wicklow Public Participation Network

May–August

[Environment] WCC Tree Management Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Dermot O'Brien", 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': 'Peir Leonard', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': "Rory O'Connor", 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': 'Lourda Scott', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': 'Jodie Neary', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Continuation of The Wage Subsidy Scheme. Online Trading Voucher eligibility ands criteria to be broadened so its not just relevant to websites, its all forms of ecommerce including apps, social media development etc. Further grants to be available to help people online and continualy develop this aspect of a their business. Sole trader grant announced in June still not available.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Retail Excellence Ireland

May–August

[Trade] Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] ACEI Submission re Government's July 2020 Business Stimulus package on 16 July 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} + 2 more

World Vision Ireland

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] A policy brief on Sustainable Development Goals & The Fashion Industry including recommendations that Government could take on board in relation to Waste Management and Circular Economy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Grace O'Sullivan", 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patricia Cronin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Creed', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} + 3 more

Roche Diagnostics Ltd

January–April

[Health] Cervical Screening, Point of Care diagnostics in Primary Care, Innovation in diagnostics. COVID-19 - Diagnostic Supplier Management Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Roche Diagnostics Ltd

January–April

[Health] COVID-19 - Diagnostic Supplier Management Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Charles Flanagan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Neurological Alliance of Ireland

May–August

[Heritage] Advocating for the implementation of existing policy and investment in services for people with neurological conditions in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ruairí O Murchu', 'role': 'Councillor (Louth County council)'} {'name': 'Ruairí Ó Murchú', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aengus Ó Snodaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 144 more

Fórsa trade union

May–August

[Local Government] Had meeting with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as part of ICTU group and wrote to Minister seeking support for a constitutional referendum that water services remain under public control and raising the concerns of union members working in water services around their future employment.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited

May–August

[Communications] To address the misinformation of 5G networks and to seek a comprehensive campaign across Government agencies and local authorities to counter and correct misinformation regarding 5G

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Ó hÓbáin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Mark Griffin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU)

May–August

[Education and Training] Leaving Certificate Reform, Student Councils and the legal voting age in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Byrne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Ibec

September–December

[Environment] Ibec-led research study assessing the merits and feasibility of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for beverage containers in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'}

Tillage Industry Ireland CLG

May–August

[Agriculture] Request to Minister for Agriculture to launch report on the Economic Impact of Tillage Sector in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture and the Marine)'}

County Kildare Chamber

May–August

[Finance] Engagement in regards to the TWSS and the potential of an extension of the scheme for Kildare as a result of the August lockdown

Public Officials Lobbied

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

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

May–August

[Community] "Made contact with the Minister’s office to ask that an official update on developments in regard to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Projection’s contracted activation services. Reply - Department engaged with external consultants on 1 December 2019 following a procurement process. The Department has engaged with the successful tenderer.The Department will engage with the Minister in due course"

Public Officials Lobbied

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

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