Overwatch Report

Galway Chamber

September–December

[Transport] Galway Chamber CEO Kenneth Deery met Hildegarde Naughton at the launch of Galway Cycling Campaign’s Supermarket Bike Parking Survey, an event to promote active travel and encourage supermarkets to invest in Bike Parking Infrastructure.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'}

Ibec

September–December

[Taxation] Committee Stage amendments to the Finance Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Hogan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

September–December

[Health] IASLT responded to the Sharing the Vision document on Mental Health, including an implementation plan.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Veterinary Ireland

September–December

[Agriculture] Communications with Chair of the City and County Managers Association on the welfare of animals.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Walsh', 'role': 'CEO (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Tim Lucey', 'role': 'CEO (Cork County Council)'}

Chambers Ireland

September–December

[Local Government] Understanding Local Government engagement with Post Level 5 re-opening plans

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Ibec

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Framework for return to office plans and employer engagement in COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Orlaigh Quinn', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

September–December

[Health] Joint Position Statement on The Use of Clear Face Masks issued by The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists and the Irish Academy of Audiology: November 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Tralee Chamber Alliance

September–December

[Local Government] Kerry Interagency Business Advisory Team

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Scannell', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Kerry County Council)'}

Social Justice Ireland

September–December

[Social Protection] Met with the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development (Joe O'Brien) on the issues of public participation, in particular the engagement of Public Participation Networks with Local Authorities and Committees; the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and the need for more ambitious poverty targets; Rural Social Inclusion and Rural Poverty; Social Enterprises and the Community Services Programme, Basic Income and the review of the CV Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)

September–December

[Communications] A letter was written to An Taoiseach to request a mechanism for the disability sector to engage with cross-governmental High Risk Subgroup established by the Department of An Taoiseach

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Womens Aid

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Women’s Aid proposed amendments to report stage of The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': '1 email to all TDs with two PDF attachments – 1 document with the proposed amendments and 1 letter from CEO Sarah Benson.'}

Ibec

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Business priorities on developing Ireland's innovation capacity and support for enterprise engagement with the ecosystem

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

BA Corperate Management Strategy Limited

September–December

[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': 'Edward Brophy', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Michael J. McGrath', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Conor Falvey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} + 10 more

Chambers Ireland

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Communication of changes to Wage Subsidy Scheme contained in Finance Act 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Hogan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

PepsiCo

September–December

[Environment] Adam Smart, General Manager met DECC officials to discuss policy design for Deposit Return Scheme in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Philip Nugent', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

September–December

[Heritage] Raising awareness of the plight of the Cathedral roof works due to loss of income resulting from the Covid 19 Pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

September–December

[Heritage] Raising awareness of the plight of St Patrick's Cathedral, since losing the main source of income from visitors due to the pandemic.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aengus Ó Snodaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Ardagh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

September–December

[Heritage] Funding from Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Ardagh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Ibec

September–December

[Employment] Operation of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Rónán Hession', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

AGL Arcadia Management Company Limited

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Understanding of the planning process

Public Officials Lobbied

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

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] Concern re Crisis Management and other aspects of Mental Health Services for Covid third wave following Prof Harry Kennedy letter to Ministers re crisis management decision making structures excluding senior medical clinicians & senior nurses in management of Covid infection control during Covid-19. College call for parity of esteem for mental health services for all decision-making structures of pandemic crisis management in mental health services to include & involve senior clinical p

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Ibec

September–December

[Communications] Mobile voice and data coverage in areas that are considered uneconomic from a commercial perspective

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciarán Ó hÓbáin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Murray

September–December

[Taxation] Explaining proposals from Volkswagen Group Ireland in relation to climate action and vehicle tax strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Murray

September–December

[Taxation] Explaining proposals from Volkswagen Group Ireland in relation to climate action and vehicle tax strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ed Brophy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'}

ARI

September–December

[Social Protection] To address the composition of the Pensions Commission and the legislation around pension age

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Gormanston Community Association

September–December

[Local Government] Seeking to encourage Meath County Councillors to support the Meath County Council Chief Executive's position on Gormanston as stated in the Draft Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027. The email also copied in Meath TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': "On 15th October 2020, the Gormanston Community Association issued an email with an attached letter giving the reasons why Meath County Councillors should support Gormanston's position."} {'name': 'Letter All Councillors', 'role': 'On 20th November 2020, the Gormanston Community Association send a postcard to each Meath County Councillor calling again for their support. The text was as follows: -\nDear Councillor,\nWe would be very grateful if you would support our community in any forthcoming voting on the Meath County Development Plan. We are a village and seaside community and want to develop as such. Any large scale housing development will destroy this objective completely. \nThe overwhelming majority of residents supports the de-zoning as proposed by Meath CC and its planners. \nYour support to us is vital. \nSincerely\nPeter Brady—Chairperson'}

ACCA Ireland

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Submission to the SME Task Force to inform them of the importance of the small and medium accounting practice (SMP) in helping SMEs access recovery funding, manage Brexit and contribute to a green and digital transition. ACCA called for support for the crucial role of SMPs in the wider economy. ACCA also identified some of the international research we have undertaken on the role of SMPs in SME growth, development and success globally with Ireland benchmark

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Ibec

September–December

[Environment] Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for beverage containers

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Philip Nugent', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education

September–December

[Education and Training] Increasing the amount of transport/buses/taxis on routes for students over 13 years

Public Officials Lobbied

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

National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education

September–December

[Education and Training] Increasing funding for cleaning, PPE and other Covid-19 related measures in special schools

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs