Overwatch Report

McGarrell Reilly Management

September–December

[Housing] The National Planning Framework (NPF)

Public Officials Lobbied

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

National Adult Literacy Agency

September–December

[Education and Training] We advocated for three commitments in the next programme for government: (1) Ringfence funding for additional adult upskilling at Levels 1-4 on the NFQ (2) Put targeted resources behind Government literacy strategies (3) Appoint a Minister of State for Lifelong Learning

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 30 more

National Adult Literacy Agency

September–December

[Education and Training] Adult Literacy for Life Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

Association of Optometrists Ireland

September–December

[Health] 6/11/2024: Association of Optometrists (Optometry Ireland) wrote and emailed a one page manifesto document to all sitting TDs and Senators, and all political parties, setting out its asks for public policy and investment in eyecare for the November General Election and next Government.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': ''}

Delta Centre

September–December

[Health] Challenges facing Section HSE funded 39 organisations including issues with service provision i.e., funding deficits regarding enhanced need of service users and transport shortfalls and salaries of employees in Section 39 agencies verses HSE/S38agencies, resulting in major issues maintaining quality service provision and in recruitment and retention of staff which in turn has potential negative impact on the quality of services to people with disabilities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Callaghan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] The cost of doing business continue to increase and over the last while we have seen many cost headings increase (including energy, minimum wage, sick pay etc.) Along with this there is a administrative cost to SME's in adhering to all of the new regulations (around HR, safety, sustainability etc)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Costs of doing business have risen significantly. Government policy in terms of minimum wage, various forms of leave, auto-enrolment for pensions etc have very real impacts for businesses, not only adding to costs, but to the administration burden on small businesses

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Adrienne Wallace', 'role': 'Councillor (Carlow County Council)'}

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Costs of doing business have risen significantly. Government anf EU policies in terms of minimum wage, various forms of leave, auto-enrolment for pensions etc have very real impacts for businesses, not only adding to costs, but to the administration burden on small businesses

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Cynthia Ní Mhurchú', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Nina Carberry', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Sean Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

September–December

[Heritage] Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) on Nature Restoration.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Hannah Hamilton', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Novo Nordisk Limited

September–December

[Health] Engagement with Government regarding the life-sciences sector in Ireland and the EU General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL).

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Grace Cappock (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Press Adviser (Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Sam Griffin', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Brian Keegan', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} + 1 more

Novo Nordisk Limited

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Meetings with Roscommon County Council and Westmeath County Council regarding Novo Nordisk's expansion plans for its manufacturing site located in Monksland. The plot of land is located at Monksland Village, Athlone, Co. Roscommon, and the nearby Google Earth latitude and longitude references are 53°25’03”N 7°59’42”W. There is no planning reference for this piece of land as it is at early stage of planning process.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Tiernan', 'role': 'Acting Chief Executive Officer (Roscommon County Council)'} {'name': "Greg O'Donnell", 'role': 'Acting Director of Service (Roscommon County Council)'} {'name': 'Barry Kehoe', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Westmeath County Council)'}

Irish Funds Industry Association CLG

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Domestic & EU Legislative Agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colm Forde', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Alan Ahearne', 'role': 'Economic Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Gillane', 'role': 'Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 132 more

Ibec

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Better regulation agenda

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Shaw', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Nothern Trust Management Services (Ireland) Limited

September–December

[Finance] Regulatory Developments

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Oliver Gilvarry', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

Saoirse Housing Association CLG

September–December

[Housing] Assistant Refuge Manager Cora McCann and key worker Stacey Dwyer advocated with two local representatives on behalf of a service user around homeless accommodation/local authority housing.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe Fox', 'role': 'Councillor (Meath County Council)'} {'name': 'Maria White', 'role': 'Councillor (Meath County Council)'}

Chime

September–December

[Education and Training] Seeking the inclusion of Irish Sign Language as an examination subject in the Leaving Certificate examinations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 10 more

Value Retail Dublin Limited

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Engagement on National Planning Framework regarding challenges and opportunities facing Ireland’s retail sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Seán Ó Fearghaíl', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Fiona O'Loughlin", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Kevin Dillon', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

September–December

[Health] Unfair exclusion of CPCs from the pay increase awarded to grades associated with the Clinical Nurse/Midwife Manager 2 pay scale.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Rachel Kenna', 'role': 'Chief Nursing Officer (Department of Health)'}

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

September–December

[Gaeltacht] Irish language provision in Gaeltacht Areas of the Irish Healthcare System

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Thomas Byrne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

Community Law & Mediation

September–December

[Environment] Email correspondance to request that a PQ is submitted on the Coastal Change Management Strategy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with the ODPP on various matters in relation to the engagement of Counsel to prosecute cases on behalf of the ODPP

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marion Berry', 'role': 'Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Helena Kiely', 'role': 'Chief Prosecution Solicitor (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'}

Comhlámh

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Comhlámh met with Sorca Clarke TD to discuss the development of child-safe guidelines for overseas school trips, including guidance not to visit or volunteer in orphanages.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sorca Clarke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Home and Community Care Ireland

September–December

[Health] Engagement with Councillors on home care issues.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Heney', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'John Stephens', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Supriya Singh', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Donna Cooney', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Christy Burke', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': "Cat O'Driscoll", 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} + 2 more

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland

September–December

[Taxation] Representations regarding Revenue’s proposal to require a verification step for the Agent Link Notification process via the Revenue Online Service ROX inbox system.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tom James', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

Home and Community Care Ireland

September–December

[Health] Engagements during the General Election campaign & government formation talks.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email to TDs with information on how they can pledge support to home care issues.'} {'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Congratulatory email to TDs after election'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Verona Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Lowry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel Grealish', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 17 more

Rehab Group

September–December

[Social Protection] Letter to Minister Humphreys and TDs on decision not to increase the Wage Subsidy Scheme in line with Budgetary Increase to National Minimum Wage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Emer Costello (Former DPO)', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pauline Tully', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Delivered a cover letter outlining the benefits of the SLP and a document containing letters of support for the SLP Bill from over 100 auctioneers and estate agents.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marc MacSharry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} + 33 more

Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Request to prioritise the next stage of the legislative process for the SLP Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Stratagem (NI) Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] Provision of audiology services and eye care services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Email sent to all TDs and Senators to make them aware of the publication of the 2024 Hearing Health Report'} {'name': 'Seán Crowe', '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': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 5 more

Irish Deer Commission

September–December

[Heritage] What have the political parties to say about deer and deer management in advance of the General Election

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Seán Fleming', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs