Overwatch Report

ESB

May–August

[Employment] Skilled workers from non-EEA countries are required to augment existing skilled resources needed to achieve Ireland's and ESB Group's decarbonisation targets through to 2030 and beyond.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Orlaigh Quinn', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Construction Industry Federation (CIF)

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Meeting between South East Branch CIF & Senator John Cummins covering Finance, Social Housing,ESB, RZLT, County Development Plan, Planning, CIF Budget Submission, NDP, Skills Requirements.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Housing] Highlighted some issues to do with the development of some land by the council that the church in Cootehill currently use as a carpark, along with others using it as a carpark during the week. Pointed out a possible need to get a pedestrian exit from another carpark near the church hall.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aiden Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] The need for a speedy approach to enabling offshore wind on not just the east coast but also the south and west coasts

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] The need for policies that would enable the Kestrel Energy Storage Project (with ESB’s project partners) to be assessed as a possible location for Methane and ultimately Hydrogen gas storage at scale in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Energy Market Developments including the need to facilitate ESB offshore wind projects via enabling the use of hybrid connections from existing thermal power stations to facilitate the transfer of offshore wind energy into the grid.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Tralee Chamber Alliance

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] ESB Phase 2 Consultation - Offshore Wind Phase 2

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'}

Royal Dublin Society

January–April

[Education and Training] The Lobbying was in relation to the RDS STEM Learning Programme/ESB Science Blast

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

January–April

[Gaeltacht] Engagement regarding the scope of application of the Official Languages Act

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sam Griffin', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Range of engagements regarding the use of hybrid connections to more easily enable offshore wind generation in context of the ORESS Consultation. This would involve enabling the power generated by offshore wind farms to use connections from existing thermal generation stations to more easily deliver the power to points of demand thereby accelerating the delivery of offshore wind to meet Programme for Government targets of 5,000MW by 2030

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciarán Cuffe', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Mick Wallace', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Informal discussion at an event on the requirement for a solution to use and store surplus energy generated by renewables during periods of lower renewable generation, including the option of hydrogen

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Anglesea Road, Ailesbury Drive and Ailsebury Grove Residents Association

May–August

[Development and Zoning] Proposed re-zoning of the grounds of the Licensed Vintners Association at rear of Anglesea Road as per the Dublin Draft Development Plan 2022-28

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dermot Lacey', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Paddy McCartan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': "Claire O'Connor", 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Hazel Chu', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'James Geoghegan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

Speed Fibre Group (and subsidiaries)

January–April

[Communications] ESB Networks (ESBN) power outages impact on enet’s provision of critical telecommunication services.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

May–August

[Social Protection] Cost of Living Crisis - priortise

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] ESB's view of the future role of Hydrogen in the Irish energy sector

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Briefing with Jennifer Whitmore TD on energy prices and Corporate Strategy, and to discuss the need for more floating offshore wind to achieve climate action targets. Also discussed the role of hydrogen in this context.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Sarah O'Neill", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Update regarding plans for GreenAtlantic@Moneypoint. The role of hybrid connections and an increase in floating offshore wind targets. Briefing on ESB’s operations on the River Shannon and discussion regarding ESB’s interest in undertaking further fish conservation measures to preserve fish stocks into the future.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister of State (The Office of Public Works)'} {'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Health] Concerns about the General Scheme of Bill on Termination of Pregnancy Safe Access Zones

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 9 more

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Submission to Senead Public Consultation Committee on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Daly', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Joe O'Reilly", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Frances Black', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Pat Casey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Emer Currie', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 3 more

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] In December 2022, JRS Ireland issued a letter to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (and other officials) regarding concerns relating to the ESB Gateway accommodation centre in East Wall, Dublin.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Briefing on ESB’s thinking on Hydrogen and what needs to be undertaken to support; subsequently submitted a paper on these matters.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Demonstrate the progress made in delivering ESB’s plans for Offshore Wind and Hydrogen on the West Coast during Minister's 2-day visit to Mid-West

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Edel Hackett', 'role': 'Press Adviser (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Matthew Collins', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

January–April

[Environment] Flood Relief Scheme Planning Proposal in Arklow Town - concerns over the proposed Flood Relief Bank ingressing into the car park and recreational field in Arklow Presbyterian Church. Plans were drawn up without consultation with, or an onsite visit to, Arklow Presbyterian Church, without realising the significant implications ingressing on the car park and recreational area will have for community activities which the church runs and facilitates.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Sylvester Bourke', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat Fitzgerald', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': 'Tommy Annesley', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} + 2 more

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

January–April

[Health] S.I. No. 171/2021 - Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 - concern that the new regulation enacts new "penal provisions" for anyone helping/attending specified event in our church buildings including the streaming of our online services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Robert Troy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Flaherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Sorca Clarke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

January–April

[Community] Policy Areas covered by the Shared Island Unit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': "Aingeal O'Donoghue", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Coalition 2030

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] ESB at meeting at Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Friends of the Earth

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] ESB before Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] In the context of the significant volume of small tracts of land that ESB would process (i.e. dispose of, or exchange for alternate sites), propose a de minimis threshold be incorporated into the Land Development Agency Bill 2021 in relation to the requirement to offer “relevant public land” (i.e. land within a town with a minimum population of 10,000 people in the latest census report) to the LDA for first refusal.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Lemass', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Presentation of ESB’s plan entitled Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint, which is a multi-billion Euro programme of significant investments on the County Clare site over the next decade. Key to delivery of the plan for the area is facilitation of the of use of hybrid connections for offshore wind generation, inclusion of projects located off the West coast as part of Phase 2 projects, inclusion of a Floating Offshore Wind preference category in the 2023 ORESS-2 auction, i

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pat Dowling', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Shane Talty', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Joe Killeen', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Joe Garrihy', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Susan Crawford', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'P.J. Kelly', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} + 6 more

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Seek a change to the quarantining arrangements required for essential workers

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Matthew Collins', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Mark Griffin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs