Overwatch Report

Fórsa trade union

May–August

[Agriculture] Letter to Minister of Agriculture, Food & Marine; and Minister of Housing, Local Gov & Heritage concerning the transfer of the local authority veterinary service to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the terms & conditions of Fórsa members affected by this. The letter seeks the intervention of both Ministers to progress this process particularly around the issue of entitlement to professional added years since March 2022.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

BioMarin International Limited

May–August

[Health] Rare disease policy in Ireland and EU

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Pádraig O'Sullivan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Berry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} + 14 more

National Infertility Support and Information Group

May–August

[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': 'Caitriona Fitzpatrick (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'NISIG emailed (with attached letter) members of the Oireachtas our 2025 pre-budget submission. Two key asks in the pre-budget submission included a request that the eligibility criteria in relation to public funding for IVF be expanded to be more inclusive to meet the demand for treatment. In addition, that the resourcing in relation to fertility hubs be increased to ensure that for those receiving treatment, it is provided in a time sensitive and planned process, with no delays for the patient.'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Marie Sherlock', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 21 more

Independent Broadcasters of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] This lobbying was to seek changes to Gambling Regulation legislation. This legislation had potential to stop charity fundraising bingo games from being advertised during the day on radio and to hamper the games being run in aid of charitable causes.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Bere Island projects Group CLG

May–August

[Marine] In person meeting of a delegation of islanders, officials from the Department of Rural & Community Development and an engineer from Cork County Council to discuss the urgent works needed at Oileain na gCaorach, Bere Island and the funding and management of a feasibility study for improvements needed.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

McCutcheon Halley

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Development and Zoning] Implementation of Cork City Council's policy on maritime heritage tourism in the Cork Docklands

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Co-operative Housing Ireland Society Limited

May–August

[Housing] Grant or equity support for AHBs to address high gearing levels in the sector

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Health Research Charities Ireland

May–August

[Health] HRCI Election Manifesto

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Gino Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Cian O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Annie Hoey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 23 more

Polio Survivors Ireland

September–December

[Health] Wrote a letter to the Lord Mayor of Cork to ask to be featured as a chosen charity for the Lord Mayor charity ball.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dan Boyle', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'}

Irish Petrol Retailers Association

May–August

[Health] Clarification as to the implementation of the under 21 cigarette sales ban.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Laya Healthcare Limited

May–August

[Health] Health Insurance Act 1994 (as amended); Section 6A – Under this Section, for a claim to qualify as a high-cost claim it must have arisen in a prescribed 12-month period and relate to an insured person under a health insurance contract(s) effected by the same registered undertaking (i.e.) the underwriter of the health insurance contract.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Louise McGirr', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Coolmine Therapeutic Community

May–August

[Health] The sharing of Coolmine's Pre Budget Submission

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Hurley', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Mary Hurley', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Mary Hurley', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} + 38 more

Danone Ireland

May–August

[Food] Meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, at the Danone Nutricia Supply Point in Wexford. Minister McConalogue was brought on a tour of the facility and provided with an overview of the Danone business in Ireland, our manufacturing footprint, health-focused portfolio, and support for the Irish agri-food sector. The Government’s biomethane strategy and matters related to post-Brexit trade were also discussed.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Amii McKeever', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Danone Ireland

May–August

[Health] Letters to eight Designated Public Officials (A Minister of State at the Department of Health, two Assistant Secretaries at the Department of Health, and five members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health) providing an overview of Danone Specialised Nutrition and requesting meetings, to discuss the role of medical nutrition in enhancing care for older people, delivering positive health outcomes for patients, and benefits to the health system.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Niall Redmond', 'role': 'Acting Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Siobhán McArdle', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Lorraine Clifford-Lee', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Grant Thornton

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Meeting with officials of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) in respect of clarifications in relation to the transposition of EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) into Irish law.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Forde', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland

May–August

[Taxation] Highlighting procedural issues arising from legislation relating to the reliefs for investment in corporate trades contained in Part 16 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and in particular the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Nursing Homes Ireland

May–August

[Health] NHI issued a letter to Deputy Cullinane in relation to a Sinn Fein motion that was accepted by the Government to support nursing homes. One year on, we are still seeing nursing homes close, residents losing their homes and access to services. The future of the nursing homes sector has only become more precarious. Despite accepting the motion, the Government has failed to address the urgent issues still jeopardising the future of nursing homes.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Children's Books Ireland CLG

May–August

[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': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ability West

May–August

[Finance] Service user wished to seek clarification from Minister Anne Rabbitte if there would be funding available for her to return home. She service user currently lives in a group home.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Catholic Education Partnership CLG

May–August

[Education and Training] A letter requesting clarification on a statement by the minister on single-sex schools.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

John Gallagher

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[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': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Invitation to Minister O Gorman to attend 40 year celebration

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Tom Sheppard', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Pender & Associates Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Health] Sharing of information relating to home care sector and pre-legislative scrutiny of Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill 2024

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Seán Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal 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': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Montague Communications Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[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)'}

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Regularisation for Undocumented People in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Gillane', 'role': 'Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Treasa Kelly', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Niamh Allen', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Patrick Cluskey', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU)

May–August

[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)'}

Shannon Chamber

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Request for a meeting to discuss delegating Clare County Council to undertake DMAPs to expedite the marine mapping of the Atlantic to progress the development of the floating offshore wind sector in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister of State (The Office of Public Works)'}

Irish ProShare Association

May–August

[Taxation] IPSA made a budget submission on behalf of its members to the Minister for Finance requesting various changes relevant to legislation as it relates to share ownership and in particular KEEP, share buy backs, the removal of the possibility of options being taxed at the date of grant and also requesting changes to the SAYE framework and the introduction of a framework for EOTs.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

May–August

[Marine] Letter to May 17th 2024 to Minister McConalogue on the Pay and Terms of Conditions for Seafarers using Irish Ports. Meeting to discuss the foregoing with a view to at least arriving at the application of the Irish Statutory Minimum Wage for all such Seafarers.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Fair Seas Ireland

May–August

[Environment] Fair Seas launched an Email Your Ministers online tool to facilitate the public to enquire about the Marine Protected Area legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs