Overwatch Report

Ennis Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Ennis Chamber Submission to Stage 1 – Pre-Draft Clare County Development Plan 2022-2028. See Ennis Chamber submission: https://www.ennischamber.ie/ennis-chamber-submission-to-pre-draft-clare-county-development-plan-2022-2028/

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Liam Conneally', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Clare County Council)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Discussed discrepancies in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Enterprise Support Grant which means that those over 66 cannot access the support and the impact of digital exclusion on older people accessing public services and the lack of financial support for older people during COVID-19 save for an extension of the Fuel Allowance which does not reach a significant proportion of people.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui McCrum', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] Engagement with An Taoiseach to discuss the challenges faced by the nursing home sector during Covid-19 pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Ibec

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Engagement on industry sector categorisation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Orla Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Letter seeking a meeting to discuss the membership of the Commission on Pensions, specifically the inclusion of representatives of older people and members of the STOP 67 Coalition.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Ibec

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] National Economic Plan - Stakeholder Engagement

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Letter to Minister Humphreys on behalf of the STOP67 Coalition requesting an expansion of the membership of the Commission on Pensions to include stronger representation of civil society organisations including those working for equality and rights of older people and women.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cork Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Meeting with Cork County Management Team, to discuss economic development in the region and to share priorities.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tim Lucey', 'role': 'CEO (Cork County Council)'} {'name': 'Clodagh Henehan', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (South Dublin County Council)'} {'name': "Valerie O'Sullivan", 'role': 'Divisonal Manager (Cork County Council)'} {'name': 'James Fogarty', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork County Council)'} {'name': 'Sharon Corcoran', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork County Council)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Community] Letter to An Taoiseach seeking a rights based approach to COVID-19 response measures which would include facilitating the participation of older people in decision making through engagement with representative civil society organisations and greater transparency through the publication of the rationale and evidence for such decisions. e publication of

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cork Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Cork City Council Management Committee

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Adrienne Rogers', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Gerry O’Beirne', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Fearghal Reidy', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Ann Doherty', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Brian Geaney', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Budget 2021 priorities issues for Age Action -the creation of an office for a Commissioner on Ageing, a new National Digital Strategy with adequate supports for continuous learning, pension adequacy and reform, a digital allowance, rights based statutory home care scheme, commencement of the Assisted Decision Making Act and funding to fully operate the Decision Support Service

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

September–December

[Employment] Minimum wage reform

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Credit Union Managers Association

September–December

[Finance] Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sean Fleming', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Abbvie Limited

September–December

[Health] Health Policy engagements

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Frank Feighan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marian Harkin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 5 more

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform re Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] Engagement with Senator re challenges faced by the nursing home sector during COVID-19 pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

September–December

[Health] Engagement with adviser to Minister for Health re Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Susan Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Community] Meeting requested by Deputy Kehoe to discuss supports needed by older people during COVID-19 response measures. The impact of digital exclusion, income inadequacy and lack of tailored social welfare supports and ageist language were raised.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kehoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

County Meath Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Meeting with County Manager regarding the Mí Meath Shop Local Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jackie Maguire', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Meath County Council)'}

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] Meeting request to discuss objectives & outcomes for Mental Health of Youth at Third Level. Concern that services & supports for those young people at 3rd level with enduring mental illness such as moderate-severe depression, eating disorders, & schizophrenia & those living with personality disorders & neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism & ADHD will not be adequately developed without a certain percentage of the 5m euro provided.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

September–December

[Employment] In Ocotober the INOU participated in the National Economic Plan Stakeholder Engagement on-line event, including in Breakout 2 which focused on 'An inclusive and balanced recovery' and was facilitated by Minister for Social Protection and for Community and Rural Development and the Islands, Heather Humphreys T.D.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Trade] Face Coverings and nonessential products

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Finance] Usage of reduced turnover as matrix for access to EWSS is not reasonable unless a similar reduction in profitability is permitted.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Health] Sale of tobacco products in Duty Free post Brexit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland

September–December

[Heritage] 01/12/20 ACEI Meeting with OPW to provide information about the association and discuss matters of mutual interest.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maurice Buckley', 'role': 'Chairman (The Office of Public Works)'} {'name': "Ciarán O'Connor", 'role': 'City Architect (The Office of Public Works)'}

Q4PR

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] Engagement and correspondence with members of government, advisers and Oireachtas members in respect of ongoing funding crisis in respect of St John of God Community Services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Gillane', 'role': 'Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Brian Murphy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} + 9 more

Q4PR

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] Engagement and correspondence with public representatives and members of government in respect of ongoing funding crisis in respect of St Joseph's Shankill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eva-Elizabeth Dowling', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'}

Private Hospitals Association

September–December

[Health] Engagement with Minister and Dept of Health officials on future collaboration possibilities with private hospital sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Susan Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] AOTI presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, along with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT), about our concerns about the HSE’s Standard Operating Procedure for Assessments of Need (AON) under the Disability Act (2005), the Preliminary Team Assessment (PTA) model and the serious delays in children accessing AONs and therapy services such as Occupational Thera

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kathleen Funchion', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

Disability Federation of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Call for re-establishment of mechanisms for the disability sector to engage with the Government on COVID-19

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kathleen MacLellan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs