Overwatch Report

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Environment] Environmental Pillar, Sustainable Water Network and Stop Climate Chaos met Ministers to discuss environmental commitments as set out in Programme for Government, proposed departmental shifts of responsibility for nature and water, and funding for ENGO sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Pippa Hackett', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Malcom Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Environment] Environmental Pillar, Sustainable Water Network, Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust, An Taisce and Stop Climate Chaos members met Deputy Ó Broin and Senator Boylan to discuss the domestic biodiversity crisis and departmental shift of nature to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Environment] Environmental Pillar, Sustainable Water Network and Stop Climate Chaos expressed concerns around proposed departmental shift of responsibility for nature and water to move to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, highlighting need for one unified department.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'John McDonald', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Marc Ó Cathasaigh', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 11 more

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Environment] Policy updates with regard to waste and circular economy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Philip Nugent', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Environment] Risks to the all-island environment of Ireland posed by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamonn Molloy', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

May–August

[Environment] Risks to the all-island environment of Ireland posed by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Donall Geoghegan', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Request for political support for 10% finance spend for biodiversity in EU budget negotiations

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Pippa Hackett', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Donall Geoghegan', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Requested input to the Terms of Reference in relation to the planned review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Meeting request

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Thomas Byrne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Agriculture] Asked MEPs to prioritise nature and climate in relation to negotiations on the new CAP programme and budget

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Luke "Ming" Flanagan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cuffe', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 8 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Raised key issues in relation to the climate and biodiversity crisis regarding the circular economy, sustainable agriculture policy, climate dialogue and public participation.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Paul Kenny', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Agriculture] Request to meet with Minister McConalogue

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bill Callanan', 'role': 'Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Agriculture] Raised awareness of the need to ensure that the Agri-Food Strategy 2030 is sustainable, with specific targets around climate action, biodiversity and environmental protection.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Pippa Hackett', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Charlie McConalogue', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Bríd Smith', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 19 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Shared the Environmental Pillar's position on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020, advocating for numerous fundamental amendments in order to ensure systemic change across society and provide an adequate framework to progressively reduce harmful emissions in accordance with national and international obligations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Réada Cronin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cormac Devlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Leddin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Darren O'Rourke", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Meeting request

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Thomas Byrne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Meeting held with Asst. Sec. Gen. Philip Nugent to discuss: update on national circular economy strategy, inland fisheries roadmap process; and Environment Fund growth and levies.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Philip Nugent', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Letter asking MEPs to support the ban on the use of lead shot in the EU, a practice which is harmful to species and habitats, while also posing a risk to public health.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Luke "Ming" Flanagan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 8 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Letter asking MEPs to support the ban on the use of lead shot in the EU, a practice which is harmful to species and habitats, while also posing a risk to public health.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Luke "Ming" Flanagan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Deirdre Clune', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Mairead McGuinness', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 8 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Outlined need for community representation on forestry stakeholder policy group

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stiofán Nutty', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Pippa Hackett', 'role': 'Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Trade] Called for postponement of Dáil motion to ratify the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement: and set out concerns including on the approach to the ratification decision and effect of investor protection provisions.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Risks to the all-island environment of Ireland posed by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, addressing legislative and governance gaps

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Francis Noel Duffy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Vincent P Martin', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Donall Geoghegan', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Risks to the all-island environment of Ireland posed by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, addressing legislative and governance gaps

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Donall Geoghegan', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Risks to the all-island environment of Ireland posed by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, addressing legislative and governance gaps

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Thomas Byrne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Trade] Signatory on joint letter from civil society organisations (national, European and international groups) which called for postponement of Dáil motion to ratify the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement: and set out concerns including on the approach to the ratification decision and the effect of investor protection provisions.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Joint letter sent by email'} {'name': 'Letter All Senators', 'role': 'Joint letter sent by email'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Trade] Called for postponement of Dáil motion to ratify the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement: and set out concerns including on the approach to the ratification decision and effect of investor protection provisions.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Mary Lou McDonald', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Grace O'Sullivan", 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 6 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Planning and Development Bill 2020: Highlighted concerns regarding public participation rights and compliance with the EU Directives and Aarhus Convention, given proposed permanent changes to the provisions on meetings in the initial stages of the County Development Plan process, in addition to the sweeping powers provided to vary statutory time limits in a range of legislation, including across administrative areas in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Rebecca Moynihan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 9 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Environment] Forestry (Miscelleaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Highlighted concerns regarding the effect of the provisions on forestry licensing compliance with EU Directive and the Aarhus Convention, and the environmental consequences and impacts on communities that would potentially result from this legislation.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Alice-Mary Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Annie Hoey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 9 more

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Marine] Heads of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill - raised key concerns including: key EU Directive and Aarhus Convention considerations; protection of the marine environment and biodiversity in relation to the development of renewable energy infrastructure projects; nature of jobs which would be realised locally and circular economy concerns; constitutional compliance of the Heads of Bill, as well as the Spatial Planning Directive. Highlighted importance of pre-legislative s

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Victor Boyhan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Cian O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Steven Matthews', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Francis Noel Duffy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Notified Government of the detention of environmental rights activist in Belarus, Ms Sukihy. Sought immediate engagement of Irish authorities to clarify details surrounding her detention and secure her release, noting concerns in relation to the Aarhus Convention and human rights treaties protecting environmental defenders and civil society leaders.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Environmental Pillar

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Notified Government of the detention of environmental rights activist in Belarus, Ms Sukihy. Sought immediate engagement of Irish authorities to clarify details surrounding her detention and secure her release, noting concerns in relation to the Aarhus Convention and human rights treaties protecting environmental defenders and civil society leaders.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Michael Gaffey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs