Overwatch Report

Charity Retail Ireland

September–December

[Finance] Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation Limited

September–December

[Marine] Meeting with Minister McConalogue to discuss Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme and Sustainability Impact Assessment meetings.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Clare Public Participation Network

September–December

[Community] Various communications relating to Clare PPN's IHREC Funded Research Project 'Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Clare'

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Cathal Crowe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Carey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Violet Anne Wynne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Michael McNamara', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Róisín Garvey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 33 more

Irving Oil Whitegte Refinery Ireland

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Updates – Facility, National Energy Security, Taxation Policy, Solidarity Contribution

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Matthew Lynch', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'David Stanton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Gillane', 'role': 'Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)'} + 1 more

Amazon Web Services

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] To seek clarity on the application of new data centre policies.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mark Griffin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Uplift

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Sharing information about far right instigated protests against people seeking asylum

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] The Planning and Development Act, 2000 (various proposed changes, and changes made via the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Francis Noel Duffy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Flaherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Thomas Gould', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Emer Higgins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 9 more

Galway Simon Community

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Email correspondence with regards to Pay Parity between Public Sector and Section 39 organisations sent to Alastair McKinstry

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alastair McKinstry', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway County Council)'} {'name': "Pauline O'Reilly", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Donal Lyons', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': "Martina O'Connor", 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'}

Galway Simon Community

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Letter sent to all TDs and Senators in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon regarding pay parity and homelessness funding and sent on the 19th of September

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'All TDs in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and sent on the 19th of September 2021'}

Galway Simon Community

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Letter to Hildegarde Naughton TD and Meeting with Ivana Bacik, TD and Labour Leader and Councillor Niall McNelis and Karen Feeney and Fintan Maher from Galway Simon Community. Meeting to discuss pay parity and homelessness funding.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Niall McNelis', 'role': 'Councillor (Galway City Council)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport)'}

Prosper Fingal CLG

September–December

[Health] Meeting with Duncan Smith to further discuss the matter of pay parity for Section 39 organisations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Duncan Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Prosper Meath CLG

September–December

[Health] In response to a letter from Prosper's Chairperson, a meeting was organised to discuss the urgent need for pay parity for Section 39 organisations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Damien English', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

National Bus and Rail Union

September–December

[Transport] The NBRU were seeking a hearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport to discuss bus real time information

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] 14/11/2022 – IrSPEN the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism: Issue of news release ‘Drugs just as good as bariatric surgery for diabetic kidney disease’ to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all Oireachtas members as an FYI.'}

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland

September–December

[Social Protection] Drawing the attention of the Department to a paper by Colm Fagan, a former President of the Society, proposing an investment approach for the automatic enrolment pensions system based on high levels of equity investment with a smoothing mechanism to address the volatility, and recommending that the Department undertake a detailed technical analysis of the proposed approach

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tim Duggan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Devenish

September–December

[Agriculture] On 6th October, Owen Brennan, Executive Chair, was the After Dinner Speaker during a Conference hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the FAO's Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock Production.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Gleeson', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Fair Seas Ireland

September–December

[Environment] Attended online meetings with Minister Noonan about COP15 updates and asked about marine announcements

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Danone Ireland

September–December

[Food] Engagement with local Wexford political representatives - sharing overview of the Danone business, our contribution to the Wexford area and wider agrifood sector. Discussed priorities including Brexit, energy incl. developing an indigenous biomethane industry, media legislation, sustainability incl. food waste, health and malnutrition.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Byrne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Verona Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Kehoe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Psychological Society of Ireland

September–December

[Health] Trainee funding - disparity of funding for educational psychology trainees.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Norma Foley', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'}

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

September–December

[Marine] Challenges facing the Aquaculture Industry in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Browne', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jackie Cahill', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Collins', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Fitzmaurice', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Flaherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

September–December

[Marine] IFA Aquaculture AGM 23rd February 2023

Public Officials Lobbied

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

The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

September–December

[Marine] Temporary Emergency Crisis Fund for the Fisheries and Seafood Sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Padráig Mac Lochlainn', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Cecil Beamish', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Darran Brennan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Ruhama

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Meeting to discuss updates on sector and progression of legislative review & Email to clarity on accommodation unit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Transport)'}

The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities

September–December

[Social Protection] Raise awareness of organisation by sharing newly published document

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'The email was a mass communication which was shared with all Oireachtas members and it contained a recently published Casebook document.'}

National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Calling for an additional €100 million in urgent funding and multi-annual funding provisions for the charitable and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'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 Transport)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} + 5 more

The Iveagh Trust

September–December

[Housing] Raising awareness of the work of The Iveagh Trust charity in social housing and its hostel for the homeless.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Francis Noel Duffy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Fintan Warfield', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Briege MacOscar', 'role': 'Councillor (Dublin City Council)'} {'name': 'Rebecca Moynihan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 12 more

A&L Goodbody

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Taxation] (1)Seeking to amend S. 847A Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to adjust the system for tax relief on donations to approved sporting bodies; (2)Seeking to amend Irish VAT Consolidation Act 2010 (a)introduce a VAT compensation scheme; (b)reduce the VAT rate on exercise classes;(3)Seeking to amend Charities Act 2009 to extend charitable status to NGBs & LSPs(4)Seeking introduction of(a)system of tax refund on certain costs associated with personal/recreational exercise; &(b)Employee exercise

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Cian Ó Lionáin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Shane Smyth', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Regularisation Scheme for Undocumented People in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'David Gilbride', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Pa Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Kenny', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Calling for Pay Parity for Employees of Section 39 Organisations

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Asked our members via email to please contact local elected representatives and seeking a meeting to discuss Pay Parity for employees of Section 39s.'} {'name': 'Noel Byrne', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Health)'}

KPMG

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Environment] We engaged with the various designated public officials within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (the “Department”) listed below in relation to the development of Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). A draft of the NBAP was circulated to the individuals below for comment as part of a process stakeholder engagement.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Fiona Quinn', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Maria Graham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Feargal Ó Coigligh', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': "Niall Ó'Donnchú", 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Eoin Moran', 'role': 'Director (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} + 1 more

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs