Overwatch Report

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Energy and Natural Resources] Offshore renewable energy, MPAs, outstanding Natura 2000 designations; lack of participation on Maritime Area Consents and the REPower initiative

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Amnesty International Ireland

May–August

[Trade] Communication re Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment hearing on the TRIPS waiver for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'David Stanton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Cairn Homes plc

May–August

[Housing] General conversations with various DPOs (listed below) on the Irish residential construction industry and the broader housing market

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Clodagh Higgins', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Eddie Hoare', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Peter Keane', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Alan Cheevers', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} + 3 more

Amnesty International Ireland

May–August

[Trade] People's Vaccine Alliance meeting in advance of Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment hearing on a TRIPS waiver for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Gavan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)

May–August

[Education and Training] Met with Deputy Cian O'Callaghan on issues affecting international students - primarily accomodation

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

May–August

[Agriculture] Meeting with Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine on dairy policy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Gleeson', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Paul Savage', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Sinead McPhilips', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Bill Callanan', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Transparency International Ireland

May–August

[Local Government] TI Ireland co-signed a letter to raise concerns over the approach of the Government to advancing legislation through the Oireachtas, particularly about the manner in which certain complex Bills have been dealt with, including the Communications (Retention of Data Bill) (2022), The Electoral Reform Bill (2022), The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill (2022) and the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Ó Fearghaíl', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mark Daly', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Padráig Mac Lochlainn', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 7 more

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

May–August

[Agriculture] Meeting with Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Bill Callanan', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Paul Dillon', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Paul Savage', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

May–August

[Agriculture] Meeting with the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food & Marine on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Food Supply Chain Bill 2022

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Tim Lombard', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Michael Fitzmaurice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Daly', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 1 more

Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland

May–August

[Housing] Lobby Day - Presentation of various Reports by SCSI on construction and housing market

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Thomas Pringle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Irish Foster Care Association

May–August

[Budgetary matters] To increase supports for those caring for children in foster care as well as contributory pensions for retired foster carers

Public Officials Lobbied

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

GOAL

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] On Fri 8th July, UNSC members voted on renewal of Resolution 2585 on cross-border aid to northwest Syria. Ireland was Council member & co-penholder of Syria Humanitarian File. In lead up to vote, GOAL joined forces with four other aid agencies in Ire (Trocaire, Concern, World Vision and Oxfam) to highlight via media channels, that failure to renew the resolution for another year at least, would immediately disrupt UN’s lifesaving aid operation

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Bioenergy Association

May–August

[Agriculture] Email to the deputy seeking to present at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the mobilisation of a biogas / biomethane industry

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Ibec

September–December

[Finance] Sharing Aircraft Leasing Ireland Budget 2023 Priorities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'John McDonald', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Ibec

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Proposed variation of the new Dublin City Development Plan

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ray McAdam', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

My Legacy CLG

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Pre-budget 2023 submission by My Legacy to remove VAT from the cost of making a will if a charitable bequest is included in that will.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': "An email to all TD's on the 5th Sept 22 enclosing a copy of our pre-Budget 2023 submission document."} {'name': 'John Hogan', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': "Colm O'Reardon", 'role': 'Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Emma Cunningham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'John McCarthy', 'role': 'Chief Economist (Department of Finance)'}

Skill Set Strategy Consultants

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Transport] Objective: To highlight the difficulties that have arisen at Dublin Airport following the opening of the airport's new North runway for Alliance Aviation (AA), an Irish company, with Fixed Base Operator status at Shannon and Dublin airports and, in particular highlight the failure of DAA to respond in a meaningful way to an application by AA to the Irish Aviation Authority [IAA] for an Approval Certificate under Article 4 of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dick Roche (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Gerard Craughwell', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Shane Cassells', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "James O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

IRISH FISH PROCESSORS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

September–December

[Marine] Norwegian Access to Irish Fishing Waters

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

IRISH FISH PROCESSORS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

September–December

[Marine] Energy Support Scheme and the need to include fish processing, export and fish retail in the energy support measures.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

IRISH FISH PROCESSORS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

September–December

[Marine] The urgent need to provide the BAR liquidity scheme for fish processing, exporting and retail. As promised in the Seafood Taskforce.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

IRISH FISH PROCESSORS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

September–December

[Marine] The need to have a meaningful and fit for purpose work permit scheme for fish processors.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Educational Publishers' Association

September–December

[Education and Training] Free Primary School Book initiative - clarification on implementation of the policy and seeking to have IEPA included in discussions around implementation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'} {'name': 'Neale Richmond', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernie McNally', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Education and Skills)'}

ACCA Ireland

September–December

[Finance] Clarifying the ACCA position regarding the Business Energy Subsidy Scheme (EBSS)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel Brett', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners)'}

Fórsa trade union

September–December

[Health] Telephone conversation with Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice regarding Section 39 organisations and Fórsa members who were on strike on 22nd September 2022. This included the issue of a pandemic payment for Section 39 workers. Also Kevin Donoghue held a meeting with Mairead Farrell TD to discuss pay parity for section 39 workers in the health sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin Donoghue (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Fitzmaurice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mairéad Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Studbook Development Ireland Limited

September–December

[Agriculture] Letters sent to Minister, Committees, TDs, Senators, and MEP concerning irregularities in the public procurement process that resulted from DAFM's settlement of the European Commission's DG-Competition's investigation of illegal State aid made to Horse Sport Ireland, and irregularities in DAFM's relationship with HSI and its Board of Directors.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Joe Carey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael McNamara', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 53 more

Galway Centre for Independent Living

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Requesting support for Irish charities, community and voluntary groups and social enterprises in the upcoming Budget for 2023. These organisations — and the people that rely on them — need comprehensive supports and resources to continue their essential work.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciaran Cannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Connolly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel Grealish', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport)'} + 2 more

Ballina Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Quarterly meeting of the Economic Development, Enterprise Support, Planning and Marine SPC

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joanne Grehan', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Mark Duffy', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Al McDonnell', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Martin McLoughlin', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Ger Deere', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Jarlath Munnelly', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} + 1 more

Innovate Communities

September–December

[Education and Training] Sharing the impact of INSPIRE Mentoring

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cook Medical

September–December

[EU Affairs] Update on the Implementation of the medical Device Regulation and its impact of Patients, end users and Cook. In particular we wanted to highlight the following. Unless immediate action is taken, Europe faces a scenario where a high number of existing medical devices, upon which patients, hospitals and other health institutions rely, will fail to be re-certified on time and therefore risk to permanently disappear from the market.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': "Kieran O'Donnell", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

IS&WFPO CLG

September–December

[Marine] Fuel Crisis and Parliamentary Questions thereon, December Council 2022, Decommissioning/Tie-Up Schemes, Quotas and A Typical Workers Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Michael Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Peadar Tóibín', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Grace O'Sullivan", 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 1 more

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs