Overwatch Report

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland

May–August

[Taxation] Response time for employers’ eligibility checks for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Bartra Capital Property Management Limited trading as Bartra Capital Property

May–August

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

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Emer Currie', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Ted Leddy', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Natalie Treacy', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Pamela Conroy', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Howard Mahony', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'John Walsh', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} + 16 more

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland

May–August

[Taxation] Wage subsidy scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Bartra Capital Property Management Limited trading as Bartra Capital Property

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] The Immigrant Investor Programme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Michael Kirrane', 'role': 'Director General (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

May–August

[Health] Pre-budget submission and cover letter to Ministers and their opposition.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

May–August

[Health] Co-signed letter from HSCPA to Minister of Health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

May–August

[Health] Co-signed letter from HSCPA to Minister of Health

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

May–August

[Health] Co-signed letter from HSCPA to Minister of Health

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

May–August

[Finance] Temporary Wage Subsidy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Niall Cody', 'role': 'Chairman (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

Wind Energy Ireland

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Marine Planning and Development Management Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Matthew Collins', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Maria Graham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 2 more

Charities Institute Ireland

May–August

[Community] Many charities operate in an environment where they are contracted to the state to deliver services on a commissioning/competitive tendering basis. As a sector, we are increasingly getting feedback from charities that this cost-driven model is unsustainable. Research indicates that price-driven services can result in poorer quality or less service for service users. Typically, many contracts exclude essential “overhead” costs such as governance and the need to engage professional

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Pfizer

May–August

[Health] Highlighted discussions on extension of industry Supply Agreement and the importance of ensuring expenditure is efficently managed to ensure Irish patients can access innovative medicines; welcomed plans to progress the National Cancer Strategy and the National Clinical Stroke Programme; outlined the need for a new Rare Disease Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} + 22 more

Screen Producers Ireland

May–August

[Arts] July Stimulus Package

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland

May–August

[Banking and Financial Institutions] Engagement on Covid-19 payment break and discussion of potential impact on Personal Insolvency Arrangements

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McNaughton', 'role': 'Director (The Insolvency Service of Ireland)'}

RGDATA

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Need for a specific agency to support SMEs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Uplift

May–August

[Heritage] Uplift members emailed Minister Noonan asking that Toon Woods in Cork be urgently recognised as a Natural Heritage SIte

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Venue Operators and Promoters Forum

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] COVID-19 engagement regarding guidance, insights, supports, knowledge sharing and meetings sought for the safe return of organised and ticketed events. Implementation of ‘scaffolding supports’ to help protect, hold sector upright and together, allowing it to survive, until such time as organised and ticketed live entertainment events can return to full capacity safely.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'John McCarthy', 'role': 'Chief Economist (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Martin Fraser', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} + 21 more

Early Childhood Ireland

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Impact of Covid-19 on the early years and school-age care sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Katherine Zappone', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Fergal Lynch', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Bernie McNally', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Eoin Wilson', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} + 2 more

Early Childhood Ireland

May–August

[EU Affairs] MFF recovery package.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Pender & Associates Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Ireland's Covid-19 Response, reopening and funding package for providers

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Pender & Associates Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Ireland's Covid-19 Response, reopening and funding package for providers, and long-term sustainability of the early learning and care sector in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Pender & Associates Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Engagement on childcare provider concerns around the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) Payment

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Callaghan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Safe Ireland sought to secure 3 Critical Priorities in the 2020 Programme for Government for tackling domestic violence (DV) in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': "Email on the the 14th of May to all TD's with Safe Ireland's 2020 Programme for Government Priorities seeking to secure 3 Critical Priorities in the 2020 Programme for Government for tackling DV in Ireland."} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)

May–August

[Community] Rosemary Keogh CEO and Joan Carthy National Advocacy Manager met with Minister Rabbitte as an introductory meeting and discuss impact of COVID and general issues faced by our members and the ability to provied services with a funding deficit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

September–December

[Health] Response to Disability Participation and Consultation Network - expression of interest.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers and Senior Officials to ensure sufficient supports are provided to households assisted by SVP impacted financially by the Covid-19 crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Rónán Hession', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Jacqui McCrum', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers and Elected Officials to ensure Budget 2021 priorities people living in poverty and on a low income and that the measures taken are fair and equitable.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email to all TDs highlighting a new report on the public service cost of poverty, commissioned by the Society of St Vincent de Paul and requesting a meeting to discuss the main findings of the report and our proposed solutions in the context of Budget 2021. Dated the 16th of June.'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'} + 2 more

Irish Environmental Network

May–August

[Environment] Raised concerns over public participation in relation to Marine Planning and Development Management Bill and Maritime Spatial Planning process

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Barnardos

May–August

[Community] Barnardos engaged with the new Minister for Community Development

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] To keep domestic violence (DV) as a priority issue during the negotiations to form a new Government.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email over the 9th and 10th of June to all TDs asking them to keep DV a priority for their party as negotiations on the formation of a new government conclude.'} {'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email to all TDs on the 17th of June calling for a dedicated Minister for DSGBV in the new Government.'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs