Overwatch Report

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

January–April

[Trade] Engagement with the Tánaiste regarding the need to re-categorise charity shops as essential retail for the communities they serve

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers, Elected Officials and Senior Civil Servants regarding SVP pre-budget asks for 2022

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Email with a copy of SVP pre-budget submission sent to to all members of the Oireachtas on the 7th of July'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'} + 17 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Engagement with Ministers and Elected Officials as part of the National One Parent Family Alliance of which SVP is a member

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Rónán Hession', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Community] Meeting with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Climate Action and Minister for Communities to discuss a process for social dialogue as part of the Community and Voluntary Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Housing] Engagement with the Minister for Housing as part of the High Level Homelessness Taskforce

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Social Protection] Engagement with Minister for Communities as part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion Steering Group and the Food Poverty working group

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Geraldine Hurley', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Bilateral meeting with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the Community and Voluntary pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Social Protection] Bilateral meeting with the Department of Social Protection as part of the Community and Voluntary Pillar

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Social Protection] Meeting with Fianna Fail Youth Members to discuss priority issues related to the economy, work and social welfare

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Cormac Devlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Andrew Bolger', 'role': 'Councillor (Wexford County Council)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Meeting with Jennifer Whitmore, TD, as part of the Just Recovery Group

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Employment] Input at panel discussion on low pay and income inequality hosted by the Social Democrats and chaired by Councillor Tara Deacy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tara Deacy', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers and Elected Officials to ensure Budget 2022 prioritises people living in poverty and on a low income and that the measures taken are fair and equitable.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Email to all members of the Oireachtas with an outline of our Budget 2022 assessment. Sent the 14th of October.'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} + 4 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Housing] Engagement with the Minister for Housing and Department of Housing on the Housing for All Plan

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Engagement with senior civils servants and the Minister for Communities on the implementation of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Geraldine Hurley', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Engagement with elected officials and senior civil servants as part of the National One Parent Family Alliance regarding the provision of supports for one-parent families

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Kathleen Funchion', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jennifer Murnane O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Paul Phelan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 7 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Engagement with elected officials on the recommendations contained in a joint report from SVP and Threshold on energy efficiency in the private rented sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Réada Cronin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cormac Devlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 22 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Bilateral meetings with relevant Government Departments as part of the Community and Voluntary Pillar in the areas of Social Protection and Justice and Equality

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Engagement with Deputy Kerrane on a draft bill to address energy poverty and the impact of the cost of living on low income households

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Engagement with elected officials as part of the European Anti Poverty Network in Ireland's policy group on the need to benchmark social welfare rates to an adequate level

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Anne Marie McNally', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Meeting with the Department of Social Protection to discuss SVP structures and funding arrangements in the event of a transfer the Minimum Essential Standard of Living research programme from the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice to SVP.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciaran Lawler', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Engagement with Ministers and Senior Officials to ensure sufficient supports are provided to households assisted by SVP impacted financially or otherwise by the Covid-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui McCrum', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Katherine Zappone', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} + 6 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

January–April

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with election officials and candidates on SVP priorities for the next Programme for Government

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Email to all members of the Oireachtas asking that they make an end to poverty a priority during and after the Covid-19 crisis. We requested that as legislators they introduce a Poverty Reduction Act which makes poverty targets legally binding. \n\n6th of April 2020'} {'name': 'Social Media All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Social media campaign asking candidates to sign up to SVP’s election priorities including the introduction of a Poverty Act, increased build and supply of social and affordable housing, cost-rental model of housing, free primary and secondary education, enhanced supports for third level students and benchmarking social welfare and the national minimum wage against the cost of a Minimum Essential Standard of Living\n\nCampaign ran from the 17th of Jan to the 31st of Jan'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shorthall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gary Gannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers and Senior Officials to ensure sufficient supports are provided to households assisted by SVP impacted financially by the Covid-19 crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Rónán Hession', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Jacqui McCrum', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers and Elected Officials to ensure Budget 2021 priorities people living in poverty and on a low income and that the measures taken are fair and equitable.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Email to all TDs highlighting a new report on the public service cost of poverty, commissioned by the Society of St Vincent de Paul and requesting a meeting to discuss the main findings of the report and our proposed solutions in the context of Budget 2021. Dated the 16th of June.'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'} + 2 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Ministers and Elected Officials to ensure Budget 2021 prioritises people living in poverty and on a low income and that the measures taken are fair and equitable.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': "Emailed a copy of SVP's Pre-Budget Submission to all Oireachtas members with a request to meet to discuss our recommendations on the 29th of September 2020"} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Rónán Hession', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Engagement with elected officials regarding a motion on child poverty that would seek to make poverty targets legally binding and that a child poverty unit be established to oversee the implementation of a national strategy to end child poverty

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Engagement with Government Minister to ensure SVP's priorities and solutions regard housing, child poverty, direct provision, childcare, energy poverty and access to higher education are considered in the implementation of the Programme for Government

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Social Protection] Engagement with elected officials and senior civil servants regarding the implementation of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brian Carroll', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Engagement with elected officials and senior civil servants as part of the National One Parent Family Alliance regarding the provision of supports for one-parent families impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Flaherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 30 more

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

September–December

[Housing] Submission and presentation to the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the findings of the joint SVP and Threshold research on the Housing Assistance Payment

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Francis Noel Duffy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Thomas Gould', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Emer Higgins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Cian O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs