Overwatch Report

Irish Cancer Society

January–April

[Health] Altnagelvin area hospital

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Special Olympics Ireland

May–August

[Sports and Recreation] On 9th May Special Olympics Munster spoke with Paul Moynihan from Cork City Council about Cork Arena hosting the FIBA Women’s European Basketball Championship for Small Countries. Special Olympics were interested in the possibility of using the Championship to engage with different groups and sectors.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Moynihan', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'}

Community Creations Limited t/a SpunOut.ie

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Briefing members on the need for the Digital Age of Consent to remain at 13 as provided for in the Data Protection Bill 2018 as initiated

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'Two emailed briefings on the 14th of February and 27th of February 2018'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Hotels Federation

January–April

[Tourism] Seeking increased focus on social policy measures and interventions as opposed to increasing the level of the national minimum wage to deal standards of living impacted by market failure.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'}

Liam Harbison

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Zoning status of lands in Termonfeckin Village

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pio Martin Smith', 'role': 'Councillor (Louth County council)'}

Third Age

January–April

[Health] AgeWell Programme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Daly', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Fórsa trade union

May–August

[Employment] Legislation to increase mandatory retirement age

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

May–August

[Health] Representation to the Department of Health advancing requirement for Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys to amend the Employment Permit Regulations to support the recruitment of healthcare assistants from outside the EU. A severe labour shortage is presenting within the employment category. Requirement to remove the role of healthcare assistant from the ineligible categories of employment listing and to undertake the process with immediacy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Darren Hourihane', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

Irish Georgian Society

January–April

[Heritage] Request for financial support for art exhibition, 'Exhibiting Art in Georgian Ireland'

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'}

Vintners' Federation of Ireland

May–August

[Local Government] Commercial rates re-valuation: Revaluations have taken place in many of the 25 counties but there are still 6 counties where the process has not even commenced yet and it is likely to be some time before it does. This is obviously inequitable as outlets on either side of a county boundary are trading in competition with one another with one having a distinct advantage over the other.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eoghan Murphy', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government)'}

Dyslexia Association of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Seeking a change to the language entry requirements for An Garda Siochana

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charles Flanagan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Irish Travel Agents Association

January–April

[Transport] Package Travel Directive

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Robert Troy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Midlands Simon Community

May–August

[Housing] On behalf of Midlands Simon Community, Peter Burke T.D exchanged emails with Colm Lavery (Programme Manager to Eoghan Murphy T.D, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government) looking for clarification on the current HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) scheme that is in place for tenants and Approved Housing Bodies.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Peter Burke (Currently employed as a DPO)', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Lower House of the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) Ltd

May–August

[Agriculture] FCI Supporting the need to strategically plan the longer term issues of the Fodder Crisis through proposals for management of agricultural diesel costs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Creed', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Michael Creed', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Andrew Doyle', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Andrew Doyle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Grant Thornton

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Development and Zoning] Grant Thornton engaged by Woodlands House Hotel & Spa to provide advice/ assistance for a submission to the National Roads Authority (NRA) re: location of Adare exit interchange for proposed Adare ByPass. Involved submissions and presentations to, and meetings with, Council members and elected representatives by representatives of Grant Thornton. Further details below.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tom Neville', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Kieran O'Donnell", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Kevin Sheahan', 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': "Richard O'Donoghue", 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Adam Teskey', 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': "Emmett O'Brien", 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'} + 3 more

Uplift

May–August

[Environment] Uplift members emailed senators to ask them not to pass changes to the Heritage bill that would allow the slash and burn of our hedgerows.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Sean D. Barrett', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Paul Bradford', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Terry Brennan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Paddy Burke', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 97 more

Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] meeting requested with Minister Heather Humphreys and Department official to discuss the anti competitive policies around renewable gas and the EU ETS companies in the agrifood, beverages and biopharma industries. RGFI as an advocacy for large industry energy gas users, who have a mandated carbon neutral policy by 2030 in order to stay competitive and be sustainable in the eyes of global consumers, while complying with Paris agreement, participating in the CD

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Fórsa trade union

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirment) Bill 2018

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Lahiffe & Associates

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Finance] Discussion of effect of EU Directive on independent mortgage brokers

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gary Tobin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

Don Briggs

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] I lobbied Tusla and Government Departments/Ministers and T.D.'s including the Office of Minister Zappone for funds for the Cottage Home Family Support Service which has been self funded for the past 6 years and which will be curtailed in February 2019 if funding cannot be secured

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Ross (Currently employed as a DPO)', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': "Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Former DPO)", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Katherine Zappone', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'}

Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland

May–August

[Transport] Liaised with Deidre Clune MEP in relation to proposed reforms re the Mobility Package.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

UCD Students' Union Company Limited by Guarantee

May–August

[Local Government] Emailed Senator requesting her participation in a Seanad Registration Campaign Video - which we hoped would encourage UCD graduates and current postgraduate students to register to vote in NUI Seanad Elections.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Irish Georgian Society

May–August

[Heritage] funding for and the structure of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ibec

May–August

[Housing] Property Industry Ireland Position on National Regeneration and Development Agency

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "David O'Connor (Former DPO)", 'role': 'CEO (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'}

Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce & Industry Company Limited by Guarantee

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Funding for festivals; Traffic management; Pedestrianisation; Yulefest; Rates & Revaluations; Purple Flag;

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colette Byrne', 'role': 'CEO (Kilkenny County Council)'}

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

May–August

[Agriculture] Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) Commonage Payment Delays

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marcella Corcoran Kennedy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pat Deering', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Willie Penrose', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 5 more

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

May–August

[Agriculture] Implementation of Heritage Act 2018

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Josepha Madigan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Cian Connaughton', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marcella Corcoran Kennedy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Irish SME Association

May–August

[Justice and Equality] ISME made a recommendation on the Report and final stage of the Criminal Justice (Corruption offences) Bill 2017 and the need to enact a law on Perjury.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pádraig Ó Céidigh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association

May–August

[Agriculture] INHFA outlined the current situation regarding the fodder shortages and the implication for family farms. INHFA called on Sinn Fein to be supportive of any call for support towards various measures that may need to be introduced as winter approaches. Brexit: INHFA again hightlighted the importance of the Irish UK trade to Irish Agriculture and that any deal that put this at risk would not be acceptable. INHFA stressed the importance to our members on maintaining an open border.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mairead Farrell', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'}

Irish ProShare Association

May–August

[Finance] Pre-Budget 2019 Submission specifically recommending certain amendments to legislation governing the Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP) and removal of PRSI and USC from existing revenue approved share plans.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs