Overwatch Report

Irish Beef and Lamb Association

January–April

[Agriculture] PQ To ask the Minister for Agri why his department changed space for nature percentages for ECO scheme applications online after the applications were submitted, when the criteria to be followed and the pre determined DAFM calculations for space for nature had allowed the ECO scheme applications to pass all checks and balances prior to submission online. This IT issue has been the source of much frustration to FAS advisors and scheme applicants, who await payments.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Healy-Rae', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] Follow-up letter to Minister Patrick O'Donovan re meeting agenda.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Sophia Housing Association CLG

January–April

[Housing] Presentation to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, TD, at a seminar on 14th February 2024 in Sophia Housing, Sean McDermott Street on the Sophia approach to the Irish Government Policy (known as Housing First) on addressing homelessness.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Liam Burke', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Fingal County Council)'} {'name': 'Ciara Shaughnessy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Sophia Housing Association CLG

January–April

[Housing] Official Sod Turning on 25th April 2024 on construction of 52 homes in Portlaoise. In attendance were Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is Darragh O'Brien, TD., Minister of State Seán Fleming, TD., Pascal McEvoy and Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Sean Fleming', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Paschal McEvoy', 'role': 'Councillor (Laois County Council)'} {'name': 'Caroline Dwane Stanley', 'role': 'Councillor (Laois County Council)'} {'name': 'John Mulholland', 'role': 'CEO (Laois County Council)'}

DEBRA Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with the Joint Committee on Health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Neasa Hourigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gino Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

DEBRA Ireland

January–April

[Health] Engagement with TDs on Topical Debate around the Rare Disease Plan

Public Officials Lobbied

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

BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited

January–April

[EU Affairs] Capital Markets Union ("CMU")

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Instinctif Partners Public Affairs Ireland

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Environment] Letters to Minister Eamon Ryan TD and Minister Ossian Smyth TD congratulating them on the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme and discussing the need for collection and recycling targets for beverage cartons.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Age & Opportunity

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Call for stronger and speedier implementation of policy commitments relevant to positive ageing and services for older people. (1) The call to establish an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People and (2) the need for stronger and speedier implementation of policy commitments relevant to positive ageing and services for older people.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Lisa Chambers', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 12 more

National Youth Council of Ireland

January–April

[Employment] Living Wage and young people

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Grace McManus (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': 'John Brady', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Kathleen Funchion', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 15 more

Cork Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Skills shortages

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ann Doherty', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Cork City Council)'}

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland

January–April

[Taxation] Tax refunds to agent mandated by taxpayer.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe Howley', 'role': 'Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Trade] (96) Outlining Chambers Ireland's trade policy priorities for 2024, which includes the EU Free Trade agenda.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Budgetary matters] (99) The need to provide intensive english language training for people seeking international protection in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Trade] (102) Sharing Chambers Ireland's EU policy priorities for the year, which includes promoting the EU’s free trade agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Trade] (113) Sharing Chambers Ireland's policy priorities for the year, which includes promoting the EU’s free trade agenda and ensuring the retention of DG Trade

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[EU Affairs] (114) Sharing Chambers Ireland's policy priorities for the year, which includes promoting the EU’s free trade agenda and ensuring the retention of DG Trade

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Hanover Media Strategy Limited

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Health] Engagement with members of the health committee in advance of debate on rare diseases

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', '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

SeeBeyondBorders Ireland CLG

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] End Orphanage volunteering

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Employment] Proposal to utilise a portion of the National Training Fund surplus to provide intensive english language training to people seeking international protection.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Education and Training] Proposal to utilise a portion of the National Training Fund surplus to provide intensive english language training to people seeking international protection

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association

January–April

[Agriculture] During the January to April period, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association engaged with both political and departmental officials on matters of concern to our members. These included the transportation of breeding stock, solar farms and battery storage and the EVA vaccine.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Blake', 'role': 'Chief Veterinary Officer (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Pippa Hackett', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG T/A SAFE Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Presentation by Mary McDermott at launch of Go Purple Day 2024 in Navan Garda Station

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

January–April

[Employment] Transposition of the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive into National law

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dermot Mulligan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

SIPTU - Services Industrial Professional Trade Union

January–April

[EU Affairs] Discussion with Labour Party and the Social Democrats regarding the transposition of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wage.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Penal Reform Trust

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with Deputy Whitmore re issues of penal reform.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Instinctif Partners Public Affairs Ireland

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Health] Communication regarding engagement with the Department of Health Taskforce on Productivity and Savings

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Irish Petroleum Industry Association Ltd.

January–April

[Energy and Natural Resources] All members of the Oireachtas were written to with details of significant price differentials for liquid fuels sold North and South of the border. They were asked to support Fuels for Ireland's calls to suspend reinstatement of excise duty on road transport fuels and to encourage the Minister for Finance to establish an expert group to comprehensively review fiscal policy in relation to liquid fuels.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Emailed information on fuel price differentials North and South of the border.'}

Irish Penal Reform Trust

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with co-chairs of All-Party Oireachtas Group on Penal Reform

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alan Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aodhan O Riordain', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Planning Institute

May–August

[Development and Zoning] Engagement with officials in the Planning Division, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Hogan', 'role': 'Acting Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs