Overwatch Report

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

May–August

[Employment] Seeking support on EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Car Rental Council of Ireland

May–August

[Finance] Seeking adequate funding for policy decisions that will reduce the cost of insurance for our members to affordable levels and keep it that way.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Fiona O'Connor", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Grant Sweetnam', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'John McDonald', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Paul Melia', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Transport)'} {'name': "Caoimhin O'Ciaruain", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Matthew Lynch', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} + 2 more

Coalition 2030

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] We requested that Budget 2023 adequately resources the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that Budget 2023 must accelerate commitment to Agenda 2030 and that it should reach the furthest behind first.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Doras Luimní

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Joint letter to Minister Humphreys, Minister McGrath, Minister O’Donoghue and Minister O’Gorman calling on the Government to allocate adequate resources towards meeting its obligations to people living in Direct Provision and the international protection process ahead of Budget 2023.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

COPE Galway CLG

September–December

[Finance] Supporting the Budget 2023 Submission of The Wheel seeking a range of measures relating to the adequate funding and resourcing of the wider community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Connolly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mairéad Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel Grealish', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Irish Wildbird Conservancy

September–December

[Environment] Inadequate state response to spread of avian influenza in seabirds and waterbirds

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Christopher O'Sullivan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Hannah Hamilton', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Brief on matters of concern in particular on the issue of access to adequate, sustainable funding and supports for 'Section 56' agencies

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

September–December

[Budgetary matters] The INOU was part of a delegation from the Community and Voluntary Pillar that met with the Department of Social Protection to discuss fifteen issues of concern and how they should be addressed in Budget 2023, including adequate core social welfare payments; improving Jobseekers Benefit and Allowance, and the Working Family Payment; activation and labour market inclusion.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Rónán Hession', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Ciaran Lawler', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

The Asthma Society of Ireland

September–December

[Health] Access to timely diagnosis – call for adequate resourcing of pulmonary function laboratories Cost burden and disruption risk for Home Oxygen Users due to Energy Crisis – call for support and guidance

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciaran Cannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Sisters of Mercy

January–April

[Housing] The right to adequate housing is provided for in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural rightsand the European Social Charter. The right to housin would put in place a basic protection in recognition that a home is central to the dignity of each person and a foundation of every person's right. In Oct 2020 there are 8737 homeless people in Ireland - 1117 families . If funded the voluntary housing agencies could help.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Macra na Feirme

January–April

[Employment] Proposal for a Directive on Adequate Minimum Wage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

County Wexford Chamber of Industry and Commerce CLG

January–April

[Community] We discussed the results of our recent Broadband survey and how Broadband services provided to people across County Wexford and how they are still inadequate and fall below expectations of what it should be. We highlighted that with the Government’s Remote Strategy plan underway for Ireland, it is vital that Broadband services are vastly improved, or it will result in a failed attempt to provide everyone with the same opportunities to work remotely.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Verona Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Kehoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Johnny Mythen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

COPE Galway CLG

January–April

[Finance] To highlight the risk to the sustainability of essential services provided by COPE Galway and to set out the funding required from the HSE, to safeguard the continued provision of homeless services, and services for older people. COPE Galway has delivered on our commitment to keep those most vulnerable safe and supported, and we now require HSE support to secure the ongoing sustainability of our services and to mitigate against the very real risks associated with inadequate funding l

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Fórsa trade union

January–April

[Employment] Sought support for the contents of Fórsa's submission on the draft EU directive on adequate minimum wages.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Maurice Quinlivan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Gavan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ged Nash', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marie Sherlock', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 3 more

Barnardos

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Highlighting the needs of vulnerable children and parents in Ireland. Presenting the work of Barnardos and stressing the need for adequate statutory funding.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Keith Connolly', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Caroline Conroy', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

May–August

[EU Affairs] EU Com (2020) 682 Proposal for a Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the European Union

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

January–April

[Social Protection] At the on-line launch of the INOU’s publication Working for Work, the supports provided in response to the impact of COVID-19 were acknowledged, while the importance of ensuring that all people trying to manage on a social welfare payment are provided with an adequate income and well-resourced employment services and supports was emphasised.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Tralee Chamber Alliance

May–August

[Transport] By 2030 the sale of new Diesel / Petrol vehicles is to be ceased, and our network of public charging points is already wholly inadequate to meet current demand. All public car parking, public visitor attractions and amenity spaces in the county must be future proofed to accommodate electric vehicles before the end of this development plan in 2028, including a strategic network of Motorhome/Camper aires around the county.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Scannell', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Kerry County Council)'}

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

January–April

[EU Affairs] Submission to Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding a proposal for a Directive of European Parliament and of the Council on adequate minimum wages in the European Union (COM (2020) 682

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pat Breen', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

January–April

[EU Affairs] Draft Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the EU

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Colm Markey', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': "Grace O'Sullivan", 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

January–April

[EU Affairs] Draft Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the EU

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Chris MacManus', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Gavan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Maeve Collins', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Ged Nash', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Irish Association of Social Workers

January–April

[Health] IASW asks that the Government take immediate action to uphold rights and safeguard residents, within our inadequately regulated nursing home sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Draft Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the EU

Public Officials Lobbied

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

National Women's Council of Ireland

January–April

[Employment] EU directive on adequate minimum wages

Public Officials Lobbied

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

An Post

January–April

[Communications] An Post asked that its unique status as the State’s designated Universal Service Provider (“USP”) under the UPU Treaty is recognised by Revenue Also requesting that Revenue provide an adequately functioning Automated Import System (“AIS”) system supported by a fully functioning IT test environment to enable compliance with UPU regulations for postal customs clearance.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'}

Venturis Investment Group ltd

May–August

[Development and Zoning] The Draft Naas LAP was published which included zoning for Data Centre. I sought extension of Data Centre zoning to ensure adequate land is zoned to facilitate marketing.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eoghan Ryan', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Kildare County Council)'}

Focus Ireland

May–August

[Social Protection] Campaign to ensure that family homelessness was adequately addressed in Government strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

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

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

May–August

[Communications] Broadband across Carlow continues to be a major issue for many businesses, Despite the rollout by NBI, many still are having issues with getting connected or just having a stable adequate connection to support their needs. Considering the govt have invested heavily in helping businesses to develop online presence over the last 2 years, we need to ensure they are able to connect

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

May–August

[EU Affairs] Draft Directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

May–August

[EU Affairs] Draft Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the EU

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maeve Collins', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs