Overwatch Report

National Infertility Support and Information Group

January–April

[Health] NISIG is the only Irish charity supporting and advocating on behalf of those experiencing fertility issues. One of our primary aims is to ensure that equality is secured, and the human rights of children conceived using AHR, their intended parents and families are protected and advanced in legislation and policy, in addition to advocating for the introduction of an equitable & fair system of public funding.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Caitríona Fitzpatrick (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gino Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Health Oireachtas Committee hearing on CAMHS and the reform of the Mental Health Act

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Ward', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Frances Black', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

National Centre for Youth Mental Health

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Informal Meeting with Minister Mary Butler at Sharing the Vision Conference (January 2024)

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Rehab Group

January–April

[Education and Training] Marian Harkin TD visited Rehab Centre in Sligo on the 9th February.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marian Harkin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

January–April

[Transport] SIPTU launched our Respect Transport Workers Campaign in Feb 2024. This was as a result of surveys we conducted among members on the increase frequency of various forms of anti-social behaviour experienced by members in the Industry.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Gerry Horkan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU)

January–April

[Education and Training] It was a general disccussion with the Deputy we discussed many topics from vaping in schools,drugs and public transport a copy of the minutes is attached here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1185PZO2t17UOL_O6R79i0xmZNpaXfAassahH4xN8t2E/edit?usp=sharing

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Episcopal Conference

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Seeking clarification re number of Irish citizens who have returned home while on licence* from the UK and if the Department of Justice or Probation Service intends to enter into any agreement with UK counterparts to facilitate the return to Ireland of former prisoners released on licence where the person wishes to return. *Release on licence means a person is released from prison generally half-way through their sentence but must abide by certain rules and supervised by P

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Thomas Pringle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Bremore Ireland Port

January–April

[Marine] Bremore Project Briefing

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Colm Markey', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Sean Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Clare Daly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cuffe', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Center for Independent Living

January–April

[Justice and Equality] emails sent to clarify how disabled people's rights under the UNCRPD and specifically in relation to Personal Assistance would be enhanced and not undermined by proposed wording the Care Referendum debtes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eileen Flynn', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Mary Seery Kearney', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Erin McGreehan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 1 more

Chime

January–April

[Health] Development of public health programme to manage the high level of unaddressed hearing loss in Ireland and to consider the recommendations of a WHO report on ear and hearing care published in March 2021.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Susan Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Seán Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Brophy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 9 more

Pinnacle Public Affairs Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[EU Affairs] Sharing the position of Delivery Platforms Europe on recital 40 of the Platform Work Directive

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Fox (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Paudie Coffey (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Patrick Cluskey', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Laura McGonigle', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} + 3 more

Chime

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] To provide personal FM systems to young Deaf and Hard of Hearing children from age 6 months to 3 years, where appropriate.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Noel Byrne', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Engineers Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] Sharing Engineers Europe Manifesto 2024

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All MEPs', 'role': 'All MEPs were supplied the same email with the attached Manifesto 2024 from Engineers Europe'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cuffe', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Clare Daly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 8 more

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] A call to action to our members asking them to lobby parliamentarians to call for a permanent ceasefire

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'An email was sent to all our members asking them to contact Oireachtas Members.'}

IRISH FISH PROCESSORS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

January–April

[Marine] General queries regarding specific schemes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Children's Books Ireland CLG

January–April

[Education and Training] We were asking for investment in school libraries and policies to support reading for joy for children and young people, locally, nationally, and in school communities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sorca Clarke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Byrne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Charities Institute Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Gambling Regulation Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'}

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Alerting to the catastrophic humanitarian and medical situation in Gaza.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Cormac Gallagher', 'role': 'Director (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Charities Institute Ireland

January–April

[Community] Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clúid Housing

January–April

[Housing] Discussion of prospectus for 2024, progress on Housing schemes in Co Laois –issues arising and potential for others, maintenance, estate management and tenant liaison matters

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Mulholland', 'role': 'CEO (Laois County Council)'} {'name': 'Angela McEvoy', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Laois County Council)'}

Irish Franchise Association

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Potential economic supports to the Irish Franchise sector and lobbying on issues affecting our members operating in the sector, primarily rising costs of doing business, reduction of vat rate

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Emer Higgins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Shannon Chamber

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] The preparation of Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPS) to determine the broad area where floating offshore renewable energy projects can be developed to progress the development of a Floating Offshore Wind Energy sector off Ireland’s west coast.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Environmental Pillar

January–April

[Environment] Requested update regarding the publishing of the Marine Protected Areas Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hannah Hamilton', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Montague Communications Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Housing] Tackling high gearing levels experienced by Approved Housing Bodies delivering social housing

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clúid Housing

January–April

[Housing] Debt to equity gearing ratios are increasing and have potential to limit/stall development pipeline. This issue affects other AHBs also.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clúid Housing

January–April

[Housing] Discussed the issues of gearing, MUD reform, defects, unencumbered units and classification.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clúid Housing

May–August

[Housing] Discussed the issues of AHB funding, gearing, MUD reform, defects, unencumbered units and classification.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Red Hat Limited

January–April

[Agriculture] Louise McKeever (Chief Information Officer (CIO) - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Louise McKeever', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU)

January–April

[Community] Seeking soundproofed spaces for group studying to be added into local libraries in County Louth to benefit students during group/project work.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paula Butterly', 'role': 'Councillor (Louth County council)'}

Matheson LLP

January–April

[Finance] Virtual meeting with Mai Santamaria (Principal Officer) and Jefferson Vierra (Asst. Principal Officer) of the Dept of Finance around the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs