Overwatch Report

Irish Wildlife Trust CLG.

January–April

[Marine] Irish Marine Protected Area legislation, ORE, EU Nature Restoration Law, EU Biodiversity pledge, EU Fisheries, Pellet loss regulation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Colm Markey', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Chris MacManus', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Sean Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 18 more

Grant Thornton

January–April

[Taxation] Representing tax practitioners from various bodies as part of the Department of Finance Business Tax Stakeholder Forum (April 2024). Re: participation exemption and other international tax developments.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Clare Costello', 'role': 'Head of Finance (Department of Finance)'}

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)

January–April

[Community] Minister Rabbitte visited Belmullet discussed a variety of issue, Pay Parity, sectoral funding, changing places, 1 point of contact

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

January–April

[Health] Met with Deputy McNamara and Deputy Harkin to keep them abreast of the developments within the private and voluntary nursing home sector and to inform them of the funding crisis that presents and the problems and closures that are arising from a lack of funding.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Universities Association

January–April

[Education and Training] Clarification of Sinn Fein policies on higher education funding

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mairéad Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Ronald McDonald House Charity Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Gambling Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Remove Charities from the new proposed gambling legislation legislation'}

Irish Council for Civil Liberties

January–April

[Community] Charities (Amendment) Bill (2023)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Anne Marie McNally', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eugene Murphy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 10 more

Big Picture Communications Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Bring to the notice of various members of the Oireachtas re clarifications needed for proposed Gambling Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Ned O'Sullivan", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Garret Ahearn', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "James O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Cairn Homes plc

January–April

[Housing] General conversations with various DPOs (listed below) on the Irish residential construction industry and the broader housing market.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Murray', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Meath County Council)'} {'name': 'Des Foley', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Meath County Council)'} {'name': 'Kevin Dillon', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 10 more

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] MHR monitors the recommendations in Sharing the Vision that are relevant to our members and increased funding is required for the policy's progression. MHR advocated for the progression of the Draft Bill to reform the 2001 Mental Health Act from priority drafting to priority publication list for the Spring/Summer 2024 legislative programme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Elisa O'Donovan", 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 5 more

Epilepsy Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Highlighting challenges with implementation of Gambling Reg Bill for charities, specifically EI circumstances.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Emailed all TDs on this issue individually'}

Deliveroo (Roofoods Ltd)

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

DOCHAS - THE IRISH ASSOCIATION OF NON- GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATIONS

January–April

[Finance] Convey civil society concerns regarding the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations within the EU concerning the budget dedicated to international solidarity and the fight against global poverty and hunger

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Michael Gaffey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

DOCHAS - THE IRISH ASSOCIATION OF NON- GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATIONS

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Convey civil society concerns regarding the current MFF negotiations within the EU concerning the budget dedicated to international solidarity and the fight against global poverty and hunger

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Michael Gaffey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

DOCHAS - THE IRISH ASSOCIATION OF NON- GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATIONS

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Convey civil society concerns regarding the current MFF negotiations within the EU concerning the budget, the importance of a human rights-based approach and the need to fund humanitarian crises.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neale Richmond', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Bioenergy Association

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Formal meeting with Minister Coveney to discuss the role of solid biomass in the decarbonisation of industrial heating, the importance for solid biomass recognition in the net zero industry act, highlight the urgency in publishing the biomethane strategy and to discuss the Irish Government position regarding an objection to the EU tariff suspension for non EU Used Cooking Oil (UCO)

Public Officials Lobbied

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

DOCHAS - THE IRISH ASSOCIATION OF NON- GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATIONS

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Convey civil society concerns regarding the need to fund humanitarian crises and overseas development aid..

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Padráig Mac Lochlainn', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

John Gallagher

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Community] Promotion of Policies of The Wheel for charity, social enterprise and community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Grant Sweetnam', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Sarah Bardon', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more