Overwatch Report

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Additional submissions in response to requests from the Minister / DECC for input into the Climate Action Plan Review

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] At a meeting covering other topics, engaged with the Minister on matters relating to development of offshore wind, transmission development, climate change targets and associated policy

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)'} {'name': 'Claire Byrne', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Range of engagements regarding use of hybrid connections for embedded generation, which involves combining offshore wind with existing thermal generation stations, to accelerate the delivery of offshore wind to meet Programme for Government targets of 5,000MW by 2030. Engagements include submission of a proposal on items to consider in relation to the MAP Bill, & separate engagements in relation to a proposal for DECC to engage with CRU/EirGrid, emphasising the cr

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)'} {'name': 'Claire Byrne', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Mary Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

May–August

[Housing] Mica Redress scheme - specific inclusion of Presbyterian Manses as properties eligible for the Mica Redress Scheme, with an increase to 100% redress

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 44 more

Presentation Interprovincial Justice Desk

September–December

[Environment] ESB Purchasing Coal from Bolivia for the sake of electricity generation in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Accenture PLC

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Meeting to share analysis of Ireland’s possible pathways to reach 2030 targets under Programme for Government targets based on an international framework called the System Value Framework. The framework was developed by a range of global energy, utility and technology companies together with the World Economic Forum and supported by Accenture. Accenture conducted analysis for Ireland in partnership with ESB.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Meeting to share analysis of Ireland’s possible pathways to reach 2030 targets under Programme for Government targets based on an international framework called the System Value Framework. The framework was developed by a range of global energy, utility and technology companies together with the World Economic Forum. The submissions are publicly available on: https://www.weforum.org/projects/system-value

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Range of engagements regarding use of hybrid connections for embedded generation, which involves combining offshore wind with existing thermal generation stations, to accelerate the delivery of offshore wind to meet Programme for Government targets of 5,000MW by 2030, emphasising the opportunities arising from the Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint strategy of ESB

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Róisín Garvey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Joe Carey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael McNamara', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 12 more

ESB

May–August

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

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Engagements seeking technical amendment to existing legislation to clarify that the DSO may engage in dispatching, to ensure that the transposition of the Clean Energy Package can be completed in a manner that enables ESBN to carry out the intended DSO role, in particular with regard to non-frequency ancillary and flexibility services.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Engagements in response to a request regarding the proposed General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Feargal Ó Coigligh', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Mary Hurley', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Local Government] Car park markings adjacent to Drum Presbyterian Church Hall/Drumcorrin National School unsuitably placed and potentially dangerous. There was also a discussion about potential applications for other CLAR projects by the school but these are unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Truell', 'role': 'Councillor (Monaghan County Council)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Environment] The Active Travel unit on behalf of Fingal County Council are carrying out works to enhance the existing cycle lane infrastructure from Baldoyle to Howth village.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'AnnMarie Farrelly', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Jimmy Guerin', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': "Cian O'Callaghan", 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Terence Flanagan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Anthony Lavin', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Aoibhinn Tormey', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'} + 4 more

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Following a request from the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications, several engagements providing smart metering related input on legislation being prepared to facilitate transposition of the clean energy package.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

September–December

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

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Paul Bolger', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Sam Griffin', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Discussions regarding Hydrogen Strategies including Green and Blue hydrogen from a carbon emissions perspective

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Range of engagements to facilitate Government plans for the provision of €100 electricity credit to all customers

Public Officials Lobbied

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

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Range of engagements regarding use of hybrid connections for embedded generation, emphasising the opportunities arising from the Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint strategy of ESB, including submissions on the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 and clarification of the interface between onshore and offshore TAOs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Mary Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Keith Connolly', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} + 7 more

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Discussion referencing the “Maritime Planning and Framework Development Bill” in the context of supporting a decarbonisation agenda through enabling of development of off- shore wind

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

ESB

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] Discussion of the use of hybrid connections for embedded generation, which would improve the ability to meet national targets as no grid reinforcements would be required

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Sisters of Mercy

September–December

[Environment] It has ememrged that Public Bodies like ESB, Gas Networks Ireland and their regulator, have investment plans that if executed, could lock Ireland into fossil fuels for decades. I asked that the Government ensure in law that this be changed and that this divergence between plans of Public State Bodies and Government climate policy be eliminated..

Public Officials Lobbied

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

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

May–August

[Community] CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) funding application

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Clifford Kelly', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'} {'name': 'Aiden Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'} {'name': 'Carmel Brady', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'} {'name': 'Paddy McDonald', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'} {'name': 'Sarah O’Reilly', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'} {'name': 'Val Smith', 'role': 'Councillor (Cavan County Council)'}

ESB

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Submission of proposal for amendment to legislative bill to make provision for hybrid connections that combine offshore wind generation and existing generation plant with a view to assisting delivery of the Government target of 5GW offshore wind by 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

September–December

[EU Affairs] Letter calling for the relocation of vulnerable people from Moria in Lesbos, Greece.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Safetynet Primary Care

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Campaign participation - "400 welcomes" lobbying to political leaders to receive 400 at risk refugees from Lesbos into Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Health] Dying with Dignity Bill 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email communication to all TDs (expect Ceann Comhairle) on the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020 sent on 1st October'}

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

September–December

[Health] Covid-19 Regulations

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Uplift

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Uplift member emailed TDs asking that they ensure that 400 women, men and children from Moria Refugee Camp in Lesbos, Greece are brought to Ireland immediately

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': '18790 emails were sent by 4501 Uplift members to TDs'}

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Rescue of Unaccompanied Children from Lesbos Refugee Camp. A request for the Government to answer the humanitarian call for other EU countries to accept unaccompanied children, victims of the recent fire at the Lesbos Refugee Camp by accepting a group of the children to Ireland. The need for reassessment of ages of children was highlighted and asking for Ireland to provide leadership in this humanitraian tragedy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Submissions in response to requests from the Minister / DECC for input into the Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 and the Climate Action Plan Review

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Griffin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs