Overwatch Report

ALONE

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Pension policy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Fergus O'Dowd", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joan Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

ALONE

January–April

[Housing] To discuss policy on vacant housing

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Emer Higgins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

ALONE

January–April

[Finance] To ask the Minister to consider ALONE proposals to address fuel poverty in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'}

ALONE

January–April

[Finance] Follow up email on ALONE Fuel Allowance recommendations

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ALONE

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Pension and Social Welfare

Public Officials Lobbied

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

PJ RIgney Distillery & International Brands Co Ltd

September–December

[Agriculture] Proposed go it alone Irish Health Warning labelling on Drinks Brands in Ireland is disproportionate & inaccurate and will damage the reputation of Irish brands & is objected to by 12 EU countries

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Brendan Gleeson', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Brian Murphy', 'role': 'Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Social welfare payments, healthcare funding, housing for older people; for consideration in 2023 Budget

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': "2-5 emails: Distribution of ALONE Pre Budget submission; request to support an increase to the pension of €20; request for meeting to discuss ALONE's prebudget submission"} {'name': 'Patricia Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Housing] Housing policy for older people, Housing Choices for our Ageing Population Joint Policy Statement

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ALONE

September–December

[Health] Health policy on loneliness

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ALONE

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Strategy to combat energy poverty

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Quinlan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Health] National Positive Ageing Strategy, home support services, health services for older people

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ALONE

September–December

[Health] Older persons' policy in relation to social welfare payments, healthcare funding, housing for older people

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cormac Devlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Sorca Clarke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patricia Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

ALONE

September–December

[Housing] Housing policy for older people, Housing Choices for our Ageing Population Joint Policy Statement

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Digital public services, Connecting Ireland 2030: A Digital and ICT Strategy for Ireland’s Public Service

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Lowry', 'role': 'Chief Information Officer (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

ALONE

January–April

[Health] Submission on the Dying with Dignity Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Creed', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pa Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 7 more

ALONE

January–April

[Health] Email requesting a meeting to discuss developing a plan to support older people and vulnerable cohorts re-emerging into society post-COVID

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} + 8 more

ALONE

January–April

[Health] Discussion on establishing a National Subgroup and re-emergence plan for older people and other vulnerable groups, Housing with Support for older people, home care regulation and to inform about ALONE's work

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Patricia Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel Connolly', 'role': 'Councillor (Kildare County Council)'} {'name': 'Daniel Céitinn', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lorraine Clifford-Lee', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} + 1 more

ALONE

May–August

[Health] Virtual meeting to inform officials from the Department of Health, Sláintecare and Healthy Ireland about ALONE's work on loneliness

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Desmond', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Kathleen MacLellan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Laura Magahy', 'role': 'Executive Manager (Department of Health)'}

ALONE

May–August

[Housing] Email to all TDs detailing ALONE's Housing for All submission

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': ''}

ALONE

May–August

[Health] €3 million funding that was previously announced in 2019 to address loneliness

Public Officials Lobbied

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

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

September–December

[Health] Letter concerning the language and intent for the allocation of mental health funding to third level institutions by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, and also identifying cohorts within the student body, such as those with moderate to severe mental illness, autism and ADHD, whose needs are neglected by an over-reliance on counselling services alone within third level settings.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ALONE

September–December

[Finance] To inform Minister about ALONE's Budget 2022 recommendations and to discuss these further

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Frank Feighan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Finance] To inform about ALONE's Budget 2022 recommendations and to consider these in discussions on the Budget

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'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': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} + 15 more

ALONE

September–December

[Finance] To inform about ALONE's Budget 2022 recommendations and to consider these in an alternative budget proposal

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patricia Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 11 more

ALONE

September–December

[Finance] Meeting regarding ALONE's social protection budget recommendations

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

ALONE

September–December

[Housing] To inform the Minister about an emerging issue regarding the Local Property Tax and to organise a meeting to discuss

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Association of Higher Civil & Public Servants

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Paul Malone AHCPS met with Pa Daly TD and Martin Kenny TD to discuss the implications for Garda Civilian staff of the upcoming Policing, Security and Community Safety Act.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pa Daly (Currently employed as a DPO)', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny (Currently employed as a DPO)', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pa Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Womens Aid

January–April

[Social Protection] During Covid-19 crisis, many women who are parenting alone due to domestic violence are not receiving the court ordered child maintenance from their abuser. Due to court restrictions at this time, women therefore are having difficulty to produce the necessary paperwork required by Social Welfare Dept. when requesting full restoration of the lone parent allowance.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Vodafone Ireland

January–April

[Community] To brief on measures to help the most vulnerable and isolated in Ireland during the COVID-19 crisis. Outlining of donation of 1,000 new smartphones along with credit top ups to ALONE and an emergency donation to Women's Aid.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Aidan O'Driscoll", 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Justice and Equality)'} {'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'} {'name': 'John Carroll', 'role': 'Head of Unit (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Mark Griffin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Ó hÓbáin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Patrick Cluskey', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} + 6 more

ALONE

January–April

[Health] Support for ALONE's key policy areas throughout General Election and Programme for Government campaigning

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email outlining policy aims as above'} {'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email outlining policy aims above and offering availability for meeting to discuss further if desired'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs