Overwatch Report

Law Society of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Engagement on the Family Courts Bill 2022.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Garrett (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)'}

Irish Hospital Consultants Association

May–August

[Health] Professional fees payable by the State Claims Agency which were reduced under Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shirley Comerford', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': 'Colin Menton', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'David Moloney', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Insight Consultants

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Health] to encourage members of the public to exercise by way of a tax credit to join fitness clubs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Kyne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Martin Conway', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lorraine Clifford-Lee', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Frances Black', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gino Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

Law Society of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Engagement on the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2015 (Awards of Merit and Honorary Membership) Regulations 2024

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Garrett (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'}

St Michael's House Group

May–August

[Social Protection] St Michael’s House CEO, Liz Reynolds, & members of the Executive Management Team attended the Joint Committee on Disability Matters in the Oireachtas to discuss rights-based service delivery to people with disabilities. (19 June 2024)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Moynihan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Dessie Ellis', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Frank Feighan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Diageo Ireland

May–August

[Arts] Provided a briefing to Minister Catherine Martin on potential future opportunities for the Rupert Guinness Theater

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fiach Kelly (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Catherine Ardagh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Aengus Ó Snodaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bríd Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Diageo Ireland

May–August

[Local Government] Concerns in relation to impacts of proposed Dublin City Transport plan.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fiach Kelly (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Brendan O’Brien', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'John McDonald', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Richard Shakespeare', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Diageo Ireland

May–August

[Local Government] Briefing related to Diageo operations in Dublin City

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fiach Kelly (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'James Geoghegan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

Irish Travel Agents Association

May–August

[Trade] Query regarding the Increased Cost of Business scheme second payment.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

St.Christopher's Services Ltd.

May–August

[Health] Meeting with Senator Micheal Carrigy to discuss St Christopher' s Services debt and pay parity for Section 39 Agencies.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Carrigy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

St.Christopher's Services Ltd.

May–August

[Health] Meeting with TD Joe Flaherty about pay parity for Section 39 Agencies and to secure additional funding for Children's Respite Property

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe Flaherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Diageo Ireland

May–August

[Transport] To raise specific concerns related to the operation of horse-drawn carriage operators on Market Street. From June 2022 to July 2024, there have been 672 reported incidents involving these operators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Richard Shakespeare', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Dublin City Council)'}

Rockwood Consulting ULC

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Heritage] Sought consultation with stakeholder

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Wiliam Lavelle (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lorraine Higgins (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lisa Chambers', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Jack O'Donnell", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} + 14 more

Rockwood Consulting ULC

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Heritage] Consultation with stakeholder

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Lavelle (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Brendan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Carrigy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Foróige, National Youth Development Organisation

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Letter to highlight inequity created by WRC pay agreements in relation to Section 39,56 and 10 agencies in the youth sector

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

May–August

[Social Protection] As part of the Community and Voluntary Pillar, the INOU attended a bilateral meeting with the Department of Social Protection. The agenda of the meeting included Budget 2025 context and priorities; benchmarking the state pension and working age payments; increase for qualified children and cost of raising older children; follow up on written responses.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] As part of the Community & Voluntary Pillar the INOU met with the DCEDIY. The agenda included engagement of CVS in Department’s preparation for Budget 2025; review of equality legislation and incorporation of socio-economic status; Equality Data Strategy; Action 44 of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion (cost of disability); Comprehensive Employment Strategy Third Action Plan; Action Plan on Youth Services; transfer of function to Cuan.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Muiriosa Foundation

May–August

[Health] Disability Service Providers lobby Government and local public representatives to support the 2025 Budget Campaign spearheaded by the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers to highlight key priorities outlined in the Budget Campaign Messages and to seek support with the budget 2025 process.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Stanley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Carol Nolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Berry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Charles Flanagan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 15 more

Educate Together

May–August

[Education and Training] Highlighted the issues of reconfiguration and parental choice; the Nurture approach; the need for management bodies to be better funded to support Board of Managements; and student participation, in particular consulting with young people in policy development.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

May–August

[Budgetary matters] IASLT submitted a PreBudget Submission to the Department of Finance in advance of this years Budget. Within this pre budget submission we call for the following: Key Ask 1: Workforce Planning Report with Specific Budget Key Ask 2: Legislate to include SLT on the list of ‘practitioners' and ‘referrers’ for medical radiological / ionising radiation procedures. Key Ask 3: Deliver National Inclusive Communication Standards

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Professional Organisations for Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Dietitians & Social Workers issued a statement to continue to highlight serious concern with the current direction, impact & safety of Children’s Disability Services.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

Shannon Chamber

May–August

[Housing] Discussion on issue of shortage of housing in Shannon which is impacting companies' staff recruitment and retention.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Gerry Flynn', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'John Crowe', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Begley', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'P.J. Ryan', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat McMahon', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} + 1 more

Shannon Chamber

May–August

[Housing] Discussion on issue of shortage of housing in Shannon which is impacting companies' staff recruitment and retention.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Gerry Flynn', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'John Crowe', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Begley', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'P.J. Ryan', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat McMahon', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} + 1 more

Law Society of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with political parties on a range of topics including: - Increased funding for the Courts Service - Restoration of funding for criminal legal aid and civil legal aid reform - Conveyancing reform (including the continued introduction of eConveyancing)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Garrett (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Pa Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

One Family

May–August

[Social Protection] Engagement with the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community Development and Rural Development and the Islands in relation to means testing within the Social Welfare system.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carly Bailey (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (South Dublin County Council)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Wall', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Erin McGreehan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 8 more

One Family

May–August

[Social Protection] Requested a Parliamentary Question to obtain the cost to extend the Household Benefits package for recipients of the One Parent Family payment and Job Seekers Transitional payment.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carly Bailey (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (South Dublin County Council)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Hermes Fund Managers Ireland Limited

May–August

[Finance] Discuss European money market fund reform proposals.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

ITMAC - Irish Tobacco Manufacturers' Advisory Committee

May–August

[Health] Request to brief political stakeholders on Age 21 legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Healy-Rae', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mattie McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Danny Healy-Rae', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Richard O'Donoghue", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Discussion about new statutory agency, Cuan, and ongoing work of DRCC

Public Officials Lobbied

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

County Kildare Chamber

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Engagement re Dail Dinner

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Ó Fearghaíl', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs