Overwatch Report

CEWEP Ireland

September–December

[Environment] Recommend policies for Fine Gael’s election manifesto on waste management, the circular economy, and Waste-to-Energy (WtE).

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Matthew Lynch', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

September–December

[Health] IASLT issued a statement on recruitment concerns associated with the HSE Pay and Numbers strategy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists

September–December

[Budgetary matters] IASLT made a pre-budget submission to Government in advance of budget 2025.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Pender & Associates Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Taxation] Engagement regarding excise tax policy as part of Budget 2025 planning.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brian Keegan', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

The Irish Hospice Foundation

September–December

[Health] Discussion about Advance Care Planning (ACP), in particular the need for Key Performance Indicators for professionals to engage with ACP with patients and the need for additional community based supports for ACP.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Siobhán McArdle', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

Shine

September–December

[Health] An Taoiseach Simon Harris was contacted by Shine to collaborate with a Video Message to be show during the launch of the Green Ribbon campaign.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Caitriona Fitzpatrick (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Family Carers Ireland

September–December

[Community] Encourage DPO's to attend Hustings event re Carer issues held by FCI in advance of the General Election

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Edward Timmins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Behan', 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} {'name': "Paul O'Brien", 'role': 'Councillor (Wicklow County Council)'} + 59 more

Age & Opportunity

September–December

[Justice and Equality] To ask if the Social Democrats would include the ask for an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People in their Election Manifesto.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Sophia Housing Association CLG

September–December

[Housing] 25th November 2024. Official opening by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien of the completion of the development of ten new homes in Sussex Street Dún Laoghaire - a collaboration between Sophia Housing, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Local Authority, Department of Housing and Housing Finance Agency.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Ciara Shaughnessy', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Cormac Devlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lorraine Hall', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': 'Justin Moylan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': 'Catherine Keenan', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} + 2 more

Tearfund Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] End Orphanage volunteering Working Group

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Budgetary matters] CSNA sought to ensure that different Local Authorities did not adopt differing attitudes to acceptance criteria for PowerUp grant scheme as announced in the Budget

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Health] CSNA made detailed submissions regarding aspects of a Public Health Bill as it affected our members, particularly those selling tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Law Society of Ireland

September–December

[Heritage] Communications and meetings with Tailte Éireann (TE) in relation to conveyancing

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Garrett (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Liz Pope', 'role': 'Chief Operations Officer (Tailte Éireann )'}

ITMAC - Irish Tobacco Manufacturers' Advisory Committee

September–December

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

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Healy-Rae', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Health] CSNA wished to have sight of SME Tests that were carried out in advance of a number of legislative actions as per the new Regulations agreed by Cabinet in 2024.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pauline Mulligan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Colm Burke', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Rockwood Consulting ULC

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Heritage] Consultation on wildlife policy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Lavelle (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'John Paul Phelan', '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': 'Joe Flaherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Richard O'Donoghue", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

Vincent Jennings/Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)

September–December

[Budgetary matters] CSNA sought assurances from Minister Peter Burke that future grant assistance to SME's would have "weeded out" all of the errors of previous Schemes

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Rockwood Consulting ULC

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Heritage] To seek an understanding of Government policy on bird surveys

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Lavelle (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'John Paul Phelan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Rockwood Consulting ULC

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Housing] Seeking engagement regarding housing policy priorities for 2025

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lorraine Higgins (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce & Industry Company Limited by Guarantee

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Housing, Water, Transport & increases in number & frequency of bus routes; Measures to address the Cost of doing Business in Kilkenny including Commercial Rates; Support new Gift Card & support local businesses; Noted new categories in Kilkenny Business Awards like Night Time Economy, Age Friendly and Rural Tourism; Supports for retail & note arrival of Tesco; Improved lighting; SETU Campus for Kilkenny; Abbey Quarter next steps; Offshore wind opportunities.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tim Butler', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Kilkenny County Council)'} {'name': 'Lar Power', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Kilkenny County Council)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'John Brennan', 'role': 'Councillor (Kilkenny County Council)'} {'name': 'Mary Hilda Cavanagh', 'role': 'Councillor (Kilkenny County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Delaney', 'role': 'Councillor (Kilkenny County Council)'} + 22 more

LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland CLG

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Marriage Equality Anniversary Event

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Katherine Zappone (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

CUMANN PEILE NA H-EIREANN "FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND"

September–December

[Sports and Recreation] Engagement with the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding 2024 - 2027

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Cian Ó Lionáin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

BiggerStage

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] The development of the unscripted production sector in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

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

BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited

September–December

[Finance] In September 2024, BlackRock met with Michael McGrath, Assistant Secretary for Financial Services at the Department of Finance, to discuss the Draghi Report and EU Financial Services regulation, focusing on the EU Capital Markets Union (CMU), securitisation, sustainability, savings, and auto-enrolment in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael J. McGrath', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'}

BeLonG To Youth Services Ltd.

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Marriage Equality Anniversary Event

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Katherine Zappone (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

A&L Goodbody

September–December

[Trade] Submission to the Department on the European Union (Corporate Sustainability Reporting) Regulations 2024 seeking engagement on areas of legislative uncertainty and concern in the Regulations

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cootehill Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Communications] Meeting with Cavan County Council on rollout of broadband in the area and difficulties of business owners securing a consistent broadband service. Frequent breakdowns cause additional cost and inconvenience for business who are encouraged to switch to online sales, electronic tills and online banking. .

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paddy Connaughton', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cavan County Council)'}

American Chamber of Commerce Ireland

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Engagement on Regulatory Burden on SMEs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Shaw', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Colm Forde', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited

September–December

[Health] Engage with Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor to be the Dáil representative to invite the Meals on Wheels Network to deliver a presentation to Oireachtas members in the AV Room of Leinster House

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Natural Capital Ireland

September–December

[Environment] NCI Executive Coordinator Deirdre Lane and Researcher Emer Ni Dhuill spoke to Minister for Nature Malcolm Noonan at the Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit and asked if he would read NCI's report on High-Level Recommendations on Funding Nature Restoration in Ireland, commissioned by the Irish Environmental Network, which we would email to him for his consideration and also help us launch the report.

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)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs