Overwatch Report

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

May–August

[Health] The Mental Health Commission - Child Psychiatry representation on the commission and adequate resources to fulfill its regulatory duties. Concerns that the regulatory condition of the commission seems to have been diluted by giving it increasing responsibilities without increasing its resources. Among the issues that are a manifestation of this is the fact that there is no representation from child and adolescent psychiatry on the commission itself.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

EQUATE

May–August

[Education and Training] EQUATE independently commissioned research

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': "An email to inform Oireachtas of EQUATE research of parents' views"} {'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Noel Rock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Stephen Lynam', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Finance)'} + 2 more

Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI)

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Ensuring the risks from ISEM delivery are adequately addressed

Public Officials Lobbied

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

EQUATE

September–December

[Education and Training] Note: This is the final return from EQUATE, which wound up on November 30th 2017. Discussions of EQUATE's work in the areas of fairness in school admissions, parental and community supports, curriculum development and submissions. Also discussions of EQUATE's ceasing operations on completion of two year work programme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Thomas Pringle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Fintan Warfield', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Róisín Shortall', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 4 more

County Wicklow Public Participation Network

September–December

[Community] Request the minister to provide community groups with more advice and adequate time frames to support them in their applications for funding

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clare Youth Service

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] A request for an increase in funding for the Youth Work sector, a request for a reduction in the reporting requirements - or the adequate resourcing of this function and a request for security of funding for the sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Conway', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Pat Breen', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Michael Harty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Carey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ALLIANCE - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND LIMITED

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Seeking fuller implementation of Articles 26 and 27 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child relating to the right of children to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Vaughan', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Kathleen Stack', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Fergal Lynch', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'}

Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] The ISPCC asked 2016 election candidates to Invest In Childhood by making a series of promises to children: Publish a national strategy on children’s cyber safety within 100 days. Fully resource the protection, welfare and mental health of our children. Ensure the right to an adequate standard of living for all children. Ensure a nationally available drug and alcohol rehabilitation network for all young people in need. Put the best interests of children at the hear

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'We sent an email to all candidates, many of whom were sitting TDs/Senators, asking them to sign up to the campaign.'} {'name': 'Submission All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'We phoned the majority of candidates who received the email to follow up on whether they would sign up to the campaign'} {'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Averil Power', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Moran', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 37 more

KILLYBEGS FISHERMEN'S ORGANISATION LTD

January–April

[Marine] The allocation of adequate European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) funds to (Fish) Producer Organisations to enable and support Production and Marketing Plans as detailed in Operational Programme

Public Officials Lobbied

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

EQUATE

January–April

[Education and Training] Admission policies / School Patronage / School management / Curriculum

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'We sent every new TD a congratulatory email on their election and wished them the best of luck. We also introduced our organisation and our aims.'} {'name': 'Neil Ward', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': "Jonathan O'Brien", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jerry Buttimer', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Thomas Pringle', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jim Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 6 more

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

May–August

[Housing] Carlow Town and County require assistance and investment. The Funding levels currently to the county are well below par and the needs of the town and county will not sustain the economic growth and development required. Housing is a big issues, there is not an adequate supply, both in numbers and also the right style/type. Barriers exist in converting above retail spaces and vacant units to residential areas both in cost and requirement.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Pat Deering', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Medical Organisation

May–August

[Health] The IMO called for all locations where public health services are delivered to be adequately resourced to meet and exceed HIQA standards of care.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish Medical Organisation

May–August

[Health] THe IMO called for recognition that the current rehabilitative services for those suffering from acquired brain injuries are inadequate to meet the level of demand and all effort must be made to ensure that the level of services are increased so as to improve vital access.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'}

Irish Tourist Industry Confederation

May–August

[Tourism] Meeting request with Minister to discuss current tourism performance, lack of ambition in national tourism targets, adequate tourism investment, retaining competitiveness, Dublin capacity issues, adequate supply of skilled staff, Tourism Agencies, reactivating the Tourism Leadership Group, restoring destination marketing budgets

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Ross', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'}

Irish Tourist Industry Confederation

May–August

[Tourism] Meeting with Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan to discuss current tourism performance, revision of national targets, adequate tourism investment, retaining competitiveness, capacity issues, restoring destination marketing budgets, reactivating Tourism Leadership Group, skilled staff shortages

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'} {'name': 'Ken Spratt', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)'}

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ALLIANCE - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND LIMITED

May–August

[Children and Youth Affairs] Seeking fuller implementation of Articles 26 and 27 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child relating to the right of children to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Katherine Zappone', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': 'Anne Vaughan', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Finian McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Niamh O'Donoghue", 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Social Protection)'} + 2 more

Limerick City Area Partnership CLG

May–August

[Community] We spoke at a meeting of our Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) SICAP Evaluation Sub-Committee about the need for a dedicated national community development programme as we believe the current Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is inadequate as it is predominantly an activation programme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eddie Ryan', 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'}

EQUATE

May–August

[Education and Training] Admissions policies/School patronage/School Management/Curriculum

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'EQUATE sends updates on its work to the Oireachtas including media releases.'} {'name': 'Conor Quinn', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Alan Wall', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Katherine Zappone', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children and Youth Affairs)'} {'name': "Fiona O'Loughlin", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Daughters of Charity Community Services

September–December

[Housing] to seek to secure adequate accommodation, from Dublin City Council, for families attending our service who are living in very poor conditions

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Janice Boylan (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Janice Boylan', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'}

Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce & Industry Company Limited by Guarantee

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Inadequate housing in Kilkenny. Abbey Quarter Development updates. 4 Projects submitted for Failte Ireland funding (Butler Gallery; Lighting for lanes & alleys; Extending Medieval Mile; Tholsel). Bellview Port investment needed (IDA to acquire more land; need to invest €5m in road infrastructure); BIDS for Kilkenny. Commercial Rates/LPT discussion. Bellview Boundary Commission.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colette Byrne', 'role': 'CEO (Kilkenny County Council)'} {'name': 'Eoghan Murphy', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Meath Youth Federation CLG

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Increase funding for voluntary youth organisations to provide improved services for young people and adequate premises

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Peadar Tóibín', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Caroline Lynch', 'role': 'Councillor (Meath County Council)'} {'name': 'Sinead Burke', 'role': 'Councillor (Meath County Council)'} {'name': "Maria O'Kane", 'role': 'Councillor (Meath County Council)'}

EQUATE

September–December

[Education and Training] Admission policies / School Patronage / Curriculum / School Management

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'An email was sent to all Senators in advance of the Statements on the Action Plan for Education reminding them of our response to the Action Plan for Education and our proposed reforms to the education system.'} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': "An email was sent to all members wishing them well with the new Dáil term and reminding them of EQUATE's work."} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'An email was sent to all members with a video link about the work EQUATE has been doing over from December to December'} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'An email was sent to all members wishing them well on their Christmas break.'} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'Emails sent to Wicklow County Councillors inviting them to a public meeting.'} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'Emails sent to Tipperary County Councillors inviting them to a public meeting.'} + 4 more

EQUATE

September–December

[Education and Training] Amend Section 7.3 (c) of the Equal Status Act 2000

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'We encouraged people to email their local TDs and get them to speak during the Admission to Schools Bill debate.'}

St Michael's House Group

September–December

[Finance] Improvement of adequate funding to provide services for people with Intellectual Disabilities and their families

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Finian McGrath', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Children's issues more specifically Recommendations of Law Reform Commission on Cybersafety legislation and policy - Child marriage and judge’s discretion, loophole needs to close - Inadequate access to mental health services for young people

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jerry Buttimer', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Limerick Chamber

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Adequately resourced public service for Limerick

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jan O'Sullivan", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Conn Murray', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Limerick City and County Council)'}

Threshold

September–December

[Housing] Pre-budget Submission concerning issues of providing adequate funds towards housing and rent supplement supports, promoting the supply of affordable rental housing amending and amending legislation with regards to receiverships.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Noonan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Mary Kenny', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Paul Bolger', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Ann Byrne', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Limerick Chamber

September–December

[Transport] Adequate transport connecting enviorns north of the City to the City Centre

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Conn Murray', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat Daly', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Limerick City and County Council)'}

Limerick Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Provision of adequate office space in City Centre

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Conn Murray', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Limerick City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat Daly', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Limerick City and County Council)'}

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association

September–December

[Agriculture] Adequate compensation for designated lands such as Hen Harrier zones

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

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