Overwatch Report

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] The Wheel met "virtually" with Secretary General Kevin McCarthy and Assistant Secretaries Bairbre Nic Aongusa and William Parnell (both collectively and individually) from the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss the supports needed by charities, community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises during the COVID-19 crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'William Parnell', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] The Wheel made written submissions to the Department of Rural and Community Development highlighting the issues facing community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises relating to income loss as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'William Parnell', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] The Wheel emailed all general election candidates (including those subsequently elected as TDs) to thank them for supporting our manifesto Stronger Communities, Stronger Ireland, asking them to support the community and voluntary sector either as a newly elected member of the Dáil or in their ongoing political work.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'The Wheel emailed all TDs who supported our manifesto standing in the 2020 general election on 5 February 2020 . The full manifesto can be read at: https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/stronger-communities/4asks.'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Carroll', 'role': 'Head of Unit (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Daniel Rowan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} + 6 more

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] The Wheel wrote to senior officials on 13th March seeking a package of supports to enable community and voluntary organisations and charities to continue to provides supports and services during the COVID-19 crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Tony Holohan', 'role': 'Chief Medical Officer (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Fergal Lynch', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Kathleen MacLellan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} + 6 more

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] The Wheel wrote to members of the Cabinet Subcommittee on COVID-19 highlighting the urgent need for supports to enable charities and community and voluntary organisations to continue operations providing services and supports during the COVID crisis

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

John Gallagher

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Community] To promote the policies of The Wheel in the context of the General Election and discussions on a Programme for Government

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Daniel Rowan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 19 more

Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Ireland

May–August

[Community] As part of The Wheel organisations community forst canmpaign, I contacted the elected representatives of Dublin west constituency in relation to requesting the needs of the voluntary and community sector are an integral part of the discussion for the formation of the new government.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel invited Kevin McCarthy to address member organisations and to engage in discussion with The Wheel CEO Deirdre Garvey at the Annual Summit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'The Wheel emailed all TDs who supported our manifesto standing in the 2020 general election on 5 February 2020 . The full manifesto can be read at: https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/stronger-communities/4asks.'} {'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel invited Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to provide a special address to address member organisations and he did so at The Wheel's Virtual Summit - 27 May. As part of the preparation for that event we informed the Taoiseach of general policy to support the community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'The Wheel emailed all TDs who supported our manifesto standing in the 2020 general election on 5 February 2020 . The full manifesto can be read at: https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/stronger-communities/4asks.'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel emailed our members asking them to contact their local TD to seek the retention of a senior minister for community and voluntary sector as part of our #PutCommunityFirst Campaign

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'The Wheel emailed all our members asking them to contact their TD seeking the retention of a senior minister for the community and voluntary sector in the new government, as part of our Programme For Government campaign #PutCommunityFirst. You can read our about the campaign here https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/Put-Community-First'}

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] The Wheel engaged with our Cork based members asking them to sign a joint letter to communicate directly with incoming Taoiseach Micheal Martin to ask for the retention of a senior minister in the formation of the new Government.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Pre-Budget Submission to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on the 20th of July

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Pre-Budget Submission to the Department of Finance, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and Department of Rural and Community Development

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'William Parnell', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel called and spoke with Donall Geoghegan, Joint Chief of Staff at the office of the Green Party Leader, based in Department of the Taoiseach, to discuss policy to support the Community and Voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Donall Geoghegan', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] We met with Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Joe O'Brien on the 3rd of July, to brief him on the COVID 19 impacts on the community and voluntary sector, the role the sector played throughout the crisis and the supports required by the sector to maintain the delivery of essential services in communities.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel's CEO Deirdre Garvey, and Director of Public Policy, Ivan Cooper, independently called and spoke with Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Joe O'Brien on the 17th of July and 27th July regarding the time being taken to disburse Emergency Stability Funds for charities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel called and spoke with Assistant Secretary Bairbre Nic Aongusa of the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss the supports needed by charities, community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises during the COVID-19 crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

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

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] On the 9th of July, the Wheel met with Secretary General Kevin McCarthy of the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss the supports needed by charities, community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises during the COVID-19 crisis.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel met with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris to discuss the National Training Fund and ongoing work to develop a Nonprofit Sector Workforce Skills development Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] We communicated with Minister Ring on social media thanking him for his service and support of the community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] We thanked the Department of Rural and Community Development and Minister Michael Ring on Twitter for the announcement of first tranche of the COVID stability scheme funding for charities on the 26th of June.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel made a submission to Government on the July Stimulus package on the 9th July

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bairbre Nic Aongusa', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'William Parnell', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Banking and Financial Institutions] The Wheel as a member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform attended a high level meeting on 22nd July with Government ministers to discuss actions needed to bring down the cost of insurance and address the insurance crisis facing charities and community and voluntary organisations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Robert Troy', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Sean Fleming', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Finance)'}

John Gallagher

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Community] Promotion of overall Policies of The Wheel

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deborah Sweeney', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Susan Mitchell', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'}

Special Olympics Ireland

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Budget 2021 - Recovery Through Community Campaign on behalf of THE WHEEL

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Brady', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

The Wheel

September–December

[Education and Training] Ivan Cooper - Director of Public Policy at the Wheel, Deirdre Garvey - CEO of The Wheel and Mairead O'Connor - Skills Development Manager at the Wheel, met with Assistant Secretary at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, William Beausang to discuss the national training strategy for the Community and Voluntary Sector on Wed 11/11/2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM via Zoom.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] Ivan Cooper - Director of Public Policy at the Wheel, Deirdre Garvey - CEO of The Wheel and Mairead O'Connor - Skills Development Manager at the Wheel, met with Assistant Secretary at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, William Beausang to discuss the national training strategy for Community and Voluntary Sector on the 17th of September 2020 via zoom

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] Ivan Cooper, Director of Public Policy at the Wheel, Deirdre Garvey - CEO of The Wheel and Mairead O'Connor - Skills Development Manager at The Wheel met with Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Joe O'Brien on the 28th October via skype to brief the Minister and his officials on the findings of recent research into training and upskilling in the non-profit sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

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