Overwatch Report

County Meath Chamber

September–December

[Transport] Meeting re the Local Distributor Road 4 (LDR4) Navan

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Murray', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Meath County Council)'}

Novartis Ireland Limited

September–December

[Health] Forwarding letter to Dept of Health about access to innovative treatment for Irish patients

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Dr Colm Henry', 'role': 'Chief Clinical Officer (Health Service Executive)'} {'name': 'Bernard Gloster', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Health Service Executive)'} {'name': 'Robert Watt', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'}

Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

September–December

[Education and Training] HECA submitted a request to the Minister seeking an amendment to Section 65A of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 to allow the Minister to appoint a later cessation date for the HECA Protection of Enrolled Learners (PEL) Scheme, which is due to expire on 31 August 2027 under current legislation.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

Amnesty International Ireland

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Letter requesting meeting to discuss escalating catastrophic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and ongoing genocide in Gaza

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Presentation of Microsoft's "Our Shared Digital Future" paper to Minister Chambers

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciarán Conlon (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Communications] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. Communications-related issues raised included broadband reliability, telecoms coverage in rural areas, digital connectivity challenges for SMEs, and the need for improved last-mile connectivity to support business operations and remote working.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Local Government] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. Local government issues raised included delivery of rural infrastructure projects, drinking water treatment capacity, local authority funding and decision-making flexibility, town centre regeneration, and the need for targeted supports for small rural town

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Hanover Media Strategy Limited

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Transport] The taxi supply shortage in rural Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Conor Gouldsbury (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Jerry Buttimer', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Sabrina Joyce-Kemper

September–December

[Environment] Informed TD about issues related to Water Quality in Dublin Bay, Swim Warnings, the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study, the Fehily Report and the possiblity of further deterioration from the Greater Dublin Drainage Project. We also discussed INTEL discharges to sewer and potential toxic PFAS contamination from Semi Conducter manufacturers such as the INTEL Plant.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Heneghan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Education and Training] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. Training-related issues raised included access to National Training Fund supports for retailers, upskilling of SME staff, digital and ecommerce training needs, and simplified access to IT and skills supports for rural businesses.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

KPMG

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Client event held at our office with An Taoiseach

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

September–December

[Education and Training] A request was made for the Minister to attend the HECA Research Conference 2025, hosted by the Higher Education Colleges Association. The conference brings together researchers, institutions, students, industry, and policymakers to showcase research activity across Ireland’s independent and private higher education sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

September–December

[Agriculture] Meeting of the CAP Consultative Committee.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Savage', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. Justice-related issues raised included rising retail crime, safety concerns for retail workers, support for the Protection of Retail Workers Act, engagement with the Retail Crime Forum, and the need to address vexatious legal claims impacting staff and

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

September–December

[Agriculture] ICMSA National AGM

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Brian Purcell', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Employment] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. Employment-related issues raised included statutory sick pay policy, rising labour costs for SMEs, minimum wage pressures on rural businesses, labour shortages, and workforce availability challenges linked to housing and transport constraints.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

September–December

[Environment] Meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine in relation to the Nitrates Derogation.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Sinead McPhillips', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Bill Callanan', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Barry Cassidy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Brian Purcell', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

The Irish Hospice Foundation

September–December

[Health] Written request to Chair and members of Oireachtas Committee on Health seeking opportunity to present findings from a report on the end of life experiences of older people to the Committee.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pádraig Rice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Pádraig O'Sullivan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marie Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

County Meath Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Chamber Pre-Budget 2026 Advocacy Day

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. Energy-related issues raised included rising business energy costs, electricity grid reliability, power outages affecting SMEs, and proposals for enhanced SEAI grant support for insulation, solar PV and renewable heating upgrades for commercial

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI)

September–December

[Transport] Enhancing Road Safety via the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sam Waide', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Road Safety Authority)'}

Sabrina Joyce-Kemper

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Gave permission for Tom Brabazon to bring my correspondence and planning submissions to a meeting with IAA and or daa.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tom Brabazon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

September–December

[EU Affairs] Addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food & Marine in relation to CAP Post 2027.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aindrias Moynihan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Fitzmaurice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Natasha Newsome Drennan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Daly', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'William Aird', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

Dublin Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Submission on Infrastructure and Regulation to the Cost of Doing Business Advisory Group

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Combined engagement including an in-person meeting on 6 October 2025 at the Courthouse, Cootehill and follow-up written submissions in November 2025 between Cootehill Chamber of Commerce and Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD. The engagement included representations on Budget 2026 priorities for rural SMEs and retailers covering business costs, training supports, energy grant funding, infrastructure investment needs and measures to strengthen local economic competitiveness.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Dublin Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Submission on Infrastructure and Regulation to the Cost of Doing Business Advisory Group

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI)

September–December

[Transport] Invitation to MIBI Annual Conference 2025

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sean Canney', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport)'}

Trócaire

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Offical Development Assistance

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)'}

Sabrina Joyce-Kemper

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Discussed the lodgment of the Water Supply project planning application and confirmed I would advise of issues that must be addressed to ensure a robust and compliant planning application as part of a voluntary advisory panel.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seamus Morris', 'role': 'Councillor (Tipperary County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael McNamara', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI)

September–December

[Transport] Invitation to MIBI Annual Conference

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jerry Buttimer', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs