Overwatch Report

John Gallagher

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

January–April

[Community] To provide information on the policies of The Wheel regarding social enterprise

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Daniel Rowan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Kevin Humphreys', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Kerry Diocesan Youth Service

January–April

[Community] Engaged with the Wheel's campaign ‘Community Matters’ campaign letter that was sent to all Local and European Election Candidates,

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'This was in advance of the Local & European Elections'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Pre-Budget submission to the Department of Finance, Department of Rural and Community Development, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Pre-Budget Submission to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Regina Doherty', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Briefing with members of the Labour Party on The Wheel's pre-Budget submission and policy priorities for the community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Briefing with representatives/members of Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party on The Wheel's pre-Budget submission and policy priorities for the community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Request for councilors to sign pledge supporting the Community and Voluntary sector as part of our Community Matters Campaign.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'Request for councilors to sign pledge supporting the Community and Voluntary sector as part of our Community Matters Campaign seeking a commitment by local councilors to: valuing the nonprofit sector, securing our future through sustainable funding models, advocating for nonprofits on a national level, examining local government procedures around regulatory reporting and compliance, encouraging participation through PPNs.'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Request for Members of the European Parliament to sign pledge supporting the community and voluntary sector as part of our Community Matters Campaign.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All MEPs', 'role': 'Request for Members of the European Parliament to sign pledge supporting the community and voluntary sector as part of our Community Matters Campaign seeking a commitment by MEPs to: valuing the nonprofit sector, securing our future through establishment of a National Fund to match income sources for organisations that receive EU funding, advocating for nonprofits at EU level, encouraging the simplification of EU funding applications, and encouraging funders to acknowledge the high cost of delivery in Ireland.'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Attendance at the launch of Senator Lynne Ruane's Bill on reform of the Electoral Acts, as part of the Coalition for Civil Society Freedom, led by Amnesty Ireland and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Ruane', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Invitation to all Senators and TDs to attend the launch of The Wheel's pre-Budget event: Investing in Communities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': "Invitation to all Oireachtas members to attend the launch of The Wheel's pre-Budget event: Investing in Communities. Event intended to raise awareness of and support for the the community and voluntary sector's priorities, as outlined in The Wheel's Budget 2020 submission."}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] Invitation to all councillors to attend the launch of The Wheel's pre-Budget event: Investing in Communities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': "Invitation to all councilors to attend the launch of The Wheel's pre-Budget event: Investing in Communities. Event intended to raise awareness of and support for the the community and voluntary sector's priorities, as outlined in The Wheel's Budget 2020 submission."}

The Wheel

May–August

[Health] The Wheel briefed members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health about the findings of the Report of the Independent Review Group established to examine the role of voluntary organisations in publicly funded health and social services (IRG Report)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Kate O'Connell", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Dolan', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[EU Affairs] The Wheel briefed the Joint Committee on European Affairs on issues relating to alliance building through EU programmes for the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael Healy-Rae', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seán Haughey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Terry Leyden', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] At The Wheel's Annual Conference and 20th birthday celebration in May, The Wheel's CEO presented an overview of the community and voluntary sector's current concerns and policy priorities, prior to a public conversation with An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The Wheel's Chairperson also encouraged An Taoiseach to support community and voluntary activity in his response to the Taoiseach's address

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Budgetary matters] The Wheel attended the National Economic Dialogue and called on Government to ensure adequate multi-annual funding for services provided by cv organisations in budget 2020, and to ensure action to bring down the cost of insurance

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Edward Brophy', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'John McCarthy', 'role': 'Chief Economist (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'John Hogan', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Ronnie Downes', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} + 2 more

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel met Minister Ring at the launch of the National Social Enterprise Policy in July and encourged Minister Ring to ensure the strategy is well resourced in Budget 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

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

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel met Minister Michael Ring at the launch of the 5-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector and encouraged the Minister to ensure that the strategy is adequately resourced in Budget 2020

Public Officials Lobbied

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

The Wheel

May–August

[Education and Training] The Wheel met the Department of Education to discuss matters related to the implementation of the National Training Fund Reform programme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'William Beausang', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)'}

John Gallagher

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Community] To provide briefing on policy of The Wheel

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Ring', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)'} {'name': 'Pearse Doherty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Howlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 6 more

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] Request for by-election candidates to support the community and voluntary sector either as a newly elected member of the Dáil or in their ongoing political work.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'We emailed councillors who were standing in the bye-election to request that they support the charity, community and voluntary, and social enterprise sector in their potential new roles as well as in their current work as councillors. Key requests centred on: roll-out the three new government policies on social enterprise, the community and voluntary sector and volunteering; streamline compliance and regulatory requirements for the sector; retain a cabinet minister for the Department of Rural and Community Development; and enabling the sector to contribute to society and to the economy through measures such as addressing high insurance costs and developing a positive procurement framework.'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Health] The Wheel participated in a bi-lateral meeting of the Community and Voluntary Pillar and the Department of Health to discuss progression of Slaintecare and Health allocations in Budget 2020, as well as receiving a briefing on the Home Care Statutory Package and Assisted Decision Making.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Desmond', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Social Protection] The Wheel attended a post-Budget-2020 briefing by the Department of Social Protection and Employment Affairs for members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar (of which The Wheel is a member)

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Deirdre Shanley', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Social Protection] The Wheel participated in a bi-lateral meeting of the Community and Voluntary Pillar and the Department of Social Protection at which the Department briefed attendees on its consultation processes and detailed the rollout of its auto-enrollment programme. The Department also provided clarification on written requests including The Wheel's query about continued funding and support for social inclusion places on community employment schemes.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jacqui McCrum', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] Briefing with representatives/members of Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party on The Wheel's pre-Budget submission and policy priorities for the community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] The Wheel met Minister Michael D'arcy as a member of a delegation from The Alliance for Insurance Reform to call for action to bring down the cost of insurance for community and voluntary organisations

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Michael D'Arcy", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Finance)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] The Wheel hosted a Pre-Budget briefing in Buswells Hotel and emailed all TD's, Senators and Councillors regarding our pre-budget asks. We sent a mass email invitation to all Councillors, TDs and Senators to attend the launch of our pre-budget submission Investing in Community where we presented an overview of our key budget asks, hosted a panel discussion with member organisations working in the charity, community and voluntary sector and ended with a Q&A from the floor.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'We sent a mass email invitation to all Councillors, TDs and Senators to attend the launch of our pre-budget submission Investing in Community where we presented an overview of our key budget asks, hosted a panel discussion with member organisations working in the charity, community and voluntary sector and ended with a Q&A from the floor.'} {'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'We sent a mass email invitation to all Councillors, TDs and Senators to attend the launch of our pre-budget submission Investing in Community where we presented an overview of our key budget asks, hosted a panel discussion with member organisations working in the charity, community and voluntary sector and ended with a Q&A from the floor.'} {'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': 'We sent a mass email invitation to all Councillors, TDs and Senators to attend the launch of our pre-budget submission Investing in Community where we presented an overview of our key budget asks, hosted a panel discussion with member organisations working in the charity, community and voluntary sector and ended with a Q&A from the floor.'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Finance] The Wheel presented our Investing in Community Budget 2020 Submission to party representatives in person at the gates of Leinster House –

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Kevin Humphreys', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Catherine Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] We invited all TDs and Senators to the launch of the Participating People Report which contains recommendations to maximise people's participation in democracy, society and economy.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'This Report of The People’s Conversation looks at how people can be enabled to reconnect to the power that shapes all of our lives, and be supported in communities of place and interest, so that all of us can take a more active role in shaping our shared future, together\n\nUnder these three themes, participants in the People’s Conversation made many recommendations that we should:\n\n•\tEstablish a minimum essential standard of living for all (supported by a living wage) and with benefits adjusted to sustain this standard \n•\tProtect the principle of universality in state benefits and access to services\n•\tExplore the idea of a guaranteed basic income for all\n•\tAddress financial exclusion by ensuring everyone has access to bank accounts and credit when needed\n•\tRe-understand the social contract and appreciate the role that tax plays in sustaining solidarity\n•\tRespect and invest in public services\n•\tPilot Participatory Budgeting and mainstream Citizens’ Juries\nand many others'}

The Wheel

September–December

[EU Affairs] We met with Minister Helen McEntee to discuss initiatives to support the community and voluntary sector to maximise people's awareness of, and participation in, relevant European programmes and initiatives

Public Officials Lobbied

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

The Wheel

September–December

[Community] The Wheel met with Secretary General Kevin McCarthy from the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss implementation of the Department's strategies on volunteering, social enterprise and the community and voluntary sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Kevin McCarthy', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs