Overwatch Report

Epilepsy Ireland

January–April

[Health] As part of our communications with TDs seeking a message of support for International Epilepsy Day (Feb 10th), we also shared information on our key advocacy priorities and asked them to support those campaigns over the course of the new Dáil

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': ''}

SeeBeyondBorders Ireland CLG

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Colm Byrne, CEO International Operations SeeBeyondBorders, met Minister of State, Noel Grealish on the 20th of March. Colm spoke to Minister Grealish about his own journey and why Cambodian education benefits greatly from Irish support.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Noel Grealish', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel Grealish', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Mercy Law Resource Centre CLG

January–April

[Housing] Launch of '10 key asks on homelessness' as part of Irish Homeless Policy Group.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Rory Hearne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Heneghan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Donna McGettigan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

January–April

[EU Affairs] The Wheel hosted an event in collaboration with the European Parliament Liaison Office titled The EU in Your Community, at which MEP Billy Kelleher was the keynote speaker, sharing his goals and priorities for the relevant to the sector. Attendees asked Kelleher questions and communicated concerns and issues relating to their work as community and voluntary organisations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dublin City Business Improvement District T/A DublinTown

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Wrote to Minister Norma Foley in relation to the over concentration of services to vulnerable persons in Dublin City Centre.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Distillers

January–April

[Trade] Irish Distillers made representations regarding developments in international trade policy and the potential introduction of tariffs on Irish whiskey

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Fox (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Adviser to Minister (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paudie Coffey (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "James O'Connor", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Noel McCarthy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Kinsella', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} + 20 more

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Paul Murphy TD to discuss challenges facing Educate Together schools, including oversubscription, lack of new school openings, and the need to roll out the National Survey of parents.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Emer Currie TD to discuss patronage reconfiguration and ask for support to advocate for progress on reconfiguration, including advancing the proposed survey of parents.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Emer Currie', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CLG

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] E-mail to Minister Jennifer Murnane O'Connor seeking a meeting with both herself and key personnel from the IDA to discuss the need to secure a tenant for the IDA building in Carlow, and to understand the plans for same

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Darren O'Rourke TD to discuss challenges in school choice, the need for new schools, and the importance of advancing patronage reconfiguration. Also discussed the parent survey, funding issues, and communication needs around the process.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation

May–August

[Public Expenditure and Reform] INTO is calling on MEPS to ensure public funds and tax payers' money be awarded in a way that supports quality jobs and collective bargaining.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Luke Ming Flanagan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Cynthia Ní Mhurchú', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Educate Together

January–April

[Education and Training] Met with Minister Moynihan in his office at his request. Advocated for a more inclusive education system, improved supports for mainstream schools and school leaders, discussed patronage reconfiguration, and requested support for the planned national survey of parents.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Moynihan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Education)'}

National Gallery of Ireland

January–April

[Arts] Invitation to open and announce the Gallery's key exhibitions and acquisitions in 2025. These include the exhibitions 'Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship' and 'Picasso. From the Studio'.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Patrick O’Donovan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers

January–April

[Housing] Request to meet to discuss the Seller's Legal Pack Bill, to seek reforms to the conveyancing process, and to discuss the development of a sustainable housing market.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lorraine Higgins (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Michael Healy-Rae', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Stanley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Heneghan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Carol Nolan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Gillian Toole', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

Irish Penal Reform Trust

January–April

[Justice and Equality] IPRT key asks for Programme for Government 2025

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Clare Mungovan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

DBI Advisory & Services Company Limited By Guarantee

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Issued proposal to Taoiseach to request that each Department propose how they could integrate AI into the work of their Departments

Public Officials Lobbied

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

daa plc

January–April

[Transport] Letter to request a meeting, and provide an update on Dublin Airport to highlight key priorities for daa

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Danone Ireland

January–April

[Environment] Email to Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien inviting him to visit the Danone factory in Wexford to share an overview of Danone’s business in Ireland, key sustainability initiatives and B Corp status.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Danone Ireland

January–April

[Food] Email to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon inviting him to visit Danone factory in Wexford, to share an overview of Danone’s business in Ireland and role within the Irish agri-food and dairy sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Autism Spectrum Information, Advice and Meeting Point Ltd, Trading as AsIAm

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Meeting with Norma Foley

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

MaresConnect Limited

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Discussion on the development of MaresConnect electricity interconnector project. MarecConnect requires to carry out a sea bed survey along the route of its proposed electricity interconnector cable route. Irish foreshore licence and UK-side licences have have been granted. Irish-side licence from foreshore to EEZ is awaited.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Laura Brien', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Maritime Area Regulatory Authority)'}

Coalition 2030

January–April

[Environment] Meeting with Sinéad Gibney TD to discuss the Irish Government's delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, funding issues for Irish International Development NGOs and work to bring back a previous Dáil Bill to create a Future Generations Commissioner for Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sinéad Gibney', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Tosu Social Inclusion Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Launch of our new strategy which aims to influence policy and systemic change regarding penal policy - we aim to change perceptions, societal attitudes and behaviours regarding people's journeys through the criminal justice system.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

Womens Community Proejcts (Mullingar) Association CLG

January–April

[Education and Training] Raising issues with the administration of 2025 REACH funding by LWETB, when the national REACH funding was announced in March 25, WCP Mullingar were notified that LWETB did appealed the REACH funding deadline. Given the tight turn around they decided not to administer the funding. REACH has been a significant support to WCP Mullingar and community groups, it would be a real lose not having it and seems very unequitable for Longford/Westmeath when it is being processed

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

mytaxi network Ireland (trading as FREE NOW)

January–April

[Taxation] Outreach and meetings with the Minister for Finance and key finance representatives to discuss VAT liabilities in the taxi industry and to call for the end of the use of the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT invoicing in the taxi sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Cian O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ged Nash', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

mytaxi network Ireland (trading as FREE NOW)

January–April

[Transport] Outreach to the Minister for Transport and key transport representatives highlighting issues impacting transport and the taxi sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pa Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Ahern', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Heneghan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Irish Cycling Campaign CLG

January–April

[Transport] Voiced support for continued investment in BusConnects, Metrolink and other public transport initiatives. Highlighted need for enabling multi-modal journeys, especially in rural areas. Voiced support for reform of Road Safety Authority.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'}

Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)

January–April

[Housing] Emailed Senator to request that they support the Prohibition of Advertising or Importuning Sex for Rent Bill 2025 in Second Stage debate

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': ''}

UNICEF Ireland

January–April

[Children and Youth Affairs] Letter to Minister Foley on her appointment as Minister for Children

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish Beef and Lamb Association

January–April

[Agriculture] To meet with Minister Heydon to discuss the hot topic of changes to the Eurostar indices by ICBF.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs