Overwatch Report

NBI Infrastructure DAC

September–December

[Communications] Engagement and information sharing regarding the delivery of broadband infrastructure as part of the National Broadband Plan.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jo Lonergan (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)'} {'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Pat Casey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Pauline O'Reilly", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 16 more

Intel Ireland Limited

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] We encouraged the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to consider the implementation of a number of key recommendations in the recent paper from the Tyndall National Institute entitled " Ireland's Role in the Global Semiconductor Industry ", specifically the establishment of a High-Level Group across government, industry, research and education to develop and oversee the strategy for the sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Declan Hughes', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'John Newham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] As part of the Community & Voluntary Pillar the INOU met with the DCEDIY. The agenda included Ireland’s equality legislation review; Equality Data Strategy; referendum on gender equality; National Policy and Framework on Children and Young People; integration and role of civil society; young carers; Disability Capacity Review Action Plan; workforce issues in the disability sector; Action Plan on Youth Services; Equal Participation model; and transfer of function from

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Carol Baxter', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed

September–December

[Social Protection] As part of the Community and Voluntary Pillar, the INOU attended a bilateral meeting with the Department of Social Protection. The agenda of the meeting included pension reform and equality impacts; Green Paper on Disability Reform; benchmarking consultation; working age payment consultation and pay-related Jobseekers’ Benefit developments; Additional Needs Payments; and the Pre-budget Forum.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Community and Voluntary Pillar meeting with Finance and PER Ministers (pre-budget)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': 'Ossian Smyth', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Attendance at Fianna Fáil roundtable

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'} {'name': 'Éamon Ó Cuív', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Attendance as a member of NESC

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Elizabeth Canavan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'John Callinan', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Attendance at DSP post-budget webinar

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Launch of Age Action's Spotlight on Income in Older Age report

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Rehab Group

September–December

[Education and Training] Engagement with Minister Simon Harris and members of Oireachtas to seek a sustainable funding model for the National Learning Network

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Emer Costello (Former DPO)', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Over 300 NLN students wrote their public representatives to share their journeys through the NLN and demonstrate how vital this service is to people with disabilities and/or mental health problems in communities across Ireland.'} {'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ruairí Ó Murchú', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marian Harkin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 123 more

Age Action

September–December

[Social Protection] Community and Voluntary Pillar bilateral meeting with the Dept. of Social Protection

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Teresa Leonard', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)'}

Rehab Group

September–December

[Social Protection] Letter to Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development in regard to the Wage Subsidy Scheme. 9th November 2023.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

My Legacy CLG

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Pre-budget 2024 submission by My Legacy to encourage charitable legacy gifts in wills by way of fiscal and other incentives.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': "An email to all T.D.s and Senators on the 13th Sept 23 enclosing a copy of My Legacy's pre-Budget 2024 submission document."} {'name': 'John Hogan', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Finance)'} {'name': "Colm O'Reardon", 'role': 'Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'John McCarthy', 'role': 'Chief Economist (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Emma Cunningham', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Gary Tobin', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} + 4 more

Barnardos

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Improving supports for families facing disadvantage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Emailed all members of the oireachtas in relation to budget 2024 and the need for targeted supports for low income families'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'James Browne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Justice)'}

Sage Advocacy

September–December

[Health] To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised in respect of the 'Emily' case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Sage Advocacy

September–December

[Health] To discuss with the Minister of State issues relating to the care of Ultan Meehan, who had been a resident of Kilbrew Nursing Home in Co. Meath.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Foras Muiridhe na h-Eireann (Maritime Institute of Ireland)

September–December

[Local Government] On the 10th October 2023 Michael Haugh (director) and Peadar Ward (Director) met with Councillor Denis O'Callaghan the Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) County Council regarding the on going difficulties with the sewerage difficulties facing the museum. We also handed him a copy of the Engineer's report of the issue which he undertook to bring to the attention of Mr Frank Curran, CEO, DLR.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Denis O'Callaghan", 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'}

Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII)

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] To encourage the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation to consider that the AI Advisory Council include public relations industry expertise.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Requests to submit Parliamentary Questions on Early Years and School Age Care matters.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Future developments in Early Years and School Age Care sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bernie McNally', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Anne Marie Brooks', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'}

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Policy Proposal on a Single Agency for Early Years and School Age Care

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Early Childhood Ireland

September–December

[Children and Youth Affairs] Priorities for the Early Years and School Age Care sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kathleen Funchion', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] 29/9/2023 Safeguarding Ireland – News Release: 'Public encouraged to put into practice new ‘Decision Support Arrangements’ issued to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all TDs and Senators as an awareness raising action.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] 21/9/2023: Sage Advocacy – News release: 'New Sage Advocacy Chair calls for ‘a GAA for Care’' circulated to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all TDs and Senators as a policy and funding position and call.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] 6/11/2023: Sage Advocacy – News release: 'More Government Involvement Needed in Care for Older People' circulated to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all TDs and Senators as a policy and funding position and call.'}

Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] Solar PV and energy storage

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] 20/11/2023 – Issue of MLSA news release 'Medical Scientists to take Industrial Action if HSE does not engage this week' to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all TDs and Senators as a labour relations position and call.'}

Cavanagh Communications

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Health] 20/11/2023: Sage Advocacy – News release: 'Better access to justice needed for at-risk adults' circulated to all TDs and Senators.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'News release emailed to all TDs and Senators as a policy and funding position and call.'}

Dyspraxia Association of Ireland

September–December

[Health] To engage with Minister Anne Rabbitte TD in relation to the official launch of the Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland National Conference.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Anne Rabbitte', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Limerick Youth Service

September–December

[Housing] Adult engaged with LYS Family Support looked for support in approaching Sharon Benson to apply for social housing

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Sharon Benson', 'role': 'Councillor (Limerick City and County Council)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs