Overwatch Report

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

September–December

[EU Affairs] Request for meeting ahead of EPSCO

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Matthew Lynch', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Ability West

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Correspondence to DPOs to highlight unmet needs and challenges ahead of Budget 2022 (in October 2021)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Catherine Connolly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ciaran Cannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 5 more

Ability West

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Invitation to DPOs to discuss the campaign run by the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers ahead of Budget 2022 (Oct 2021)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Ciaran Cannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Canney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Mairéad Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

September–December

[Transport] Meetings to introduce the Go-Ahead Ireland management team to local authorities in Dublin and the surrounding counties.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Daniel Dunne', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': 'Tom Kivlehan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': 'Robert Burns', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': "Oisín O'Connor", 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Mulhern', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (South Dublin County Council)'} {'name': 'Richard Shakespeare', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Dublin City Council)'} + 1 more

Prosper Fingal CLG

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] An email was sent to three TDs ahead of a special Cabinet meeting on 09/01/20 with the single focus of Disability.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

PFA Ireland

January–April

[Sports and Recreation] Meeting around the future of the league of ireland ahead of meeting with minister Ross and UEFA

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Ken Spratt', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'}

Prosper Meath CLG

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] An email was sent to three TDs ahead of a special Cabinet meeting on 09/01/20 with the single focus of Disability.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of the Irish Motor Industry

January–April

[Taxation] With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, many businesses have concerns over their cash-flow in the months and year ahead, including tax liabilities as they fall due.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niall Cody', 'role': 'Chairman (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

Chambers Ireland

January–April

[Trade] To brief Minister and her team ahead of informal meeting of EU Trade Ministers on 16 April, on a letter from Eurochambres to Commission on trade, supply chains and global co-operation during COVID19

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Philip Kelly', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

Stop Climate Chaos coalition

January–April

[Environment] Letter to Minister Bruton ahead of EU Environment meeting calling for urgent revision of the EU 2030 target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Oxfam Ireland

January–April

[EU Affairs] Correspondence ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Development) meeting, sharing briefing on how EU member states can support developing countries to respond to COVID-19.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cannon', 'role': 'Minister of State for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Irish Vape Vendors Association

January–April

[Health] IVVA sent our Election Manifesto to a number of TD ahead of General Election

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

DOCHAS - THE IRISH ASSOCIATION OF NON- GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATIONS

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] Letter sent in collaboration with CONCORD Europe ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, 8 June 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cannon', 'role': 'Minister of State for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Inclusion Ireland

January–April

[Budgetary matters] Meeting ahead of Election 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marcella Corcoran Kennedy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Christian Aid Ireland

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] Letter Ahead of EU FA Council regarding Annexation of the West Bank

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] We welcomed the appointment of Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, and Green party leader Eamon Ryan TD via email congratulating them on their election success / appointment and noting that we were looking forward to working with them in the months and years ahead. This email was issued on July 2nd.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] We wrote to various DPOs congratulating them on their election success / appointment and noting that we were "looking forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to support a thriving community and voluntary sector at the heart of a fair and just Ireland"

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} + 7 more

Disability Federation of Ireland

May–August

[Education and Training] Joint submission by AHEAD & DFI on the 'Calculated Grade Process for Leaving Certificate 2020 - Ensuring Fairness for Students with Disabilities'

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'}

Irish Exporters Association

May–August

[Trade] Submission to Government ahead of the July Stimulus Package. The IEA called for the establishment of a State backed Export Credit scheme, access to liquidity and the continuation of the Temporary Wage Subsidy.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Macra na Feirme

September–December

[EU Affairs] Ahead of CAP Trilogues

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Ibec

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Business preparedness ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Thomas Byrne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

AHEAD

September–December

[Education and Training] To request a meeting to discuss the contribution AHEAD can make to the work of the department, and to ask you to consider utilising universal design (UD) and universal design for learning (UDL) approaches as a lens for this new department to address issues of equity and diversity.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

Irish SME Association

September–December

[Health] We sought the immediate introduction of rapid (antigen) testing for workers ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Orlaigh Quinn', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Declan Hughes', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'}

The Victims Alliance

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Lobby for image-based sexual abuse amendments to the Harassment, Harmfull communications and other related offences bill 2017 ahead of Committee stage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bríd Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Holly Cairns', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Thomas Pringle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Sage Advocacy

September–December

[Health] Covid-19 and Nursing Homes: To get clarity on whether the additional Christmas visits, again in line with HPSC guidance, to nursing homes can go ahead as planned.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Exporters Association

September–December

[Trade] Raised concerns about customs preparedness ahead of Brexit and need for supply to meet increased demands for direct shipping to the continent post-Brexit.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

daa plc

September–December

[Transport] Briefing sent to DPO on issues around Cork Airport traffic light system testing ahead of Oireachtas transport committee meeting

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Shannon Chamber

September–December

[Transport] Letter of Thanks to Ministers for funding allocation to Shannon Airport and request to keep Aviation Policy Reform on the Government's Agenda Ahead is the task of aviation policy reform and with it an opportunity to leverage the potential for the network of airports throughout the country to play a greater role in delivering regional development.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Michael McNamara', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

County Kildare Chamber

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Discuss the Chambers Ireland Budget 2021 submission, highlighting both our budgetary and legislative priorities under 5 of the SDGs. The intended results were to discuss and underline how best to continue to support jobs and businesses, infrastructure spending and investment in the period ahead, how we can help town centres, remote working, supporting companies to scale, driving more balanced regional development, and housing.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

Cork Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Level 3 Restrictions: Government Must Help Businesses Plan Ahead

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'Cork County Council and Cork City Council Elected Representatives'} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Cork Based Oireachtas Members'} {'name': 'Tim Lucey', 'role': 'CEO (Cork County Council)'} {'name': 'Ann Doherty', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Cork City Council)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs