Overwatch Report

Mental Health Reform

January–April

[Health] Informing Oireachtas members of key mental health matters ahead of dail debate on mental health

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Kathleen Lynch', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Enda Kenny', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Irish Hospice Foundation

January–April

[Health] To support, enable and encourage people of all ages to discuss and plan for end of life needs – to Think Ahead

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'email requesting inclusion of this matter in election manifesto and as an election issue'} {'name': 'Mary Moran', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'John Kelly', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Lorraine Higgins', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 10 more

The Irish Hospice Foundation

January–April

[Health] Meeting to discuss possibility of the Think Ahead programme being rolled out nationally as a government initiative

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Shaw', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

The Irish Hospice Foundation

January–April

[Health] Request for meeting to discuss roll out of Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act and IHF's Think Ahead programme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jim Breslin', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Frances Spillane', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Health)'}

Concern Worldwide

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Ahead of the 4 February conference on the Syria crisis in London (hosted by UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the UN) Concern published a report – “Paying the Price: Why donors must take a new approach to the Syria crisis” to detail the urgent and distinct range of needs on the ground, the wider need for concerted political attention towards ending the war and the imperative of engaging civil society in all efforts to address teh immense and ongoin challenges.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Michael Gaffey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Uplift

May–August

[Trade] Ahead of a Clare County Council meeting on 8 Feb Uplift members and Uplift staff emailed members of Clare Co Co asking for their support for a motion against TTIP

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Councillors', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Michael Begley', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'James Breen', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Pat Burke', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Bill Chambers', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} {'name': 'Clare Colleran Molloy', 'role': 'Councillor (Clare County Council)'} + 28 more

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Five priorities of MRCI's Political Manifesto ahead of General Election 1. Regularisation for undocumented migrants, 2. Immigration reform 3. Change in sectors and conditions of Work Permits 4. Protection of exploited workers and people trafficked for forced labour and 4. Racism and Discrimination

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': "Email containing MRCI's Election Manifesto"}

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Health] Emailed members of the Seanad with information on mental health ahead of the Seanad debate on mental health

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Mental Health Reform

May–August

[Health] Emailed members of Seanad with info on housing for people with a mental health difficulty ahead of a Seanad debate on the issue

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Chambers Ireland

May–August

[EU Affairs] Invitation to attend a breakfast briefing with Chambers Ireland delegation ahead of the European Parliament of Enterprise (EPE) in Brussels on 13th October.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lynn Boylan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Nessa Childers', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Brian Hayes', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Matt Carthy', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Luke "Ming" Flanagan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Marian Harkin', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} + 5 more

Simon Communities of Ireland

May–August

[Housing] Engagement with members of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness ahead of their report

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Colm Brophy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ruth Coppinger', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Curran', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Bernard Durkan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 8 more

The Irish Hospice Foundation

May–August

[Health] request to An Taoiseach to include Think Ahead in funding programme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Enda Kenny', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

Irish Exporters Association

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Need to examine whether Govt support is needed for Irish SME's who had not hedged GBP sufficiently ahead of the Brexit Vote

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Mary Mitchell O'Connor", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)'} {'name': 'Rory Montgomery', 'role': 'Second Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Dermot Curran', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Charles Flanagan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Irish Exporters Association

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Inquired whether Govt would consider providing support for Irish SME's who had not hedged GBP sufficiently ahead of the Brexit Vote

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Rose Conway-Walsh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} + 10 more

Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI)

May–August

[Transport] Provided information about Setanta Insurance Case to members of Dáil Éireann ahead of motor insurance debate.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Correspondence sent to all TDs about the Setanta Insurance case ahead of Dáil Éireann debate on motor insurance.'}

Concern Worldwide

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] Ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit (23-24 May), Concern published "Seize the Opportunity" - a statement of its commitments and its calls to action in line with the Secretary General’s ‘Agenda for Humanity’. The reports sets out 5 'asks' of global leaders including the Irish Government which played a leadership role ahead of the WHS, convening its own Irish Humanitarian Summit to agree on the collective contribution Ireland could make to the WHS.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Michael Gaffey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Concern Worldwide

May–August

[Foreign Affairs] Ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit (23-24 May), Concern published "Still Paying the Price: Progress on Addressing the Syria Crisis since the London Conference" - assessing progress on funding and policy pledges made 3 months earlier. The report sets out 5 areas for action by the international community and specifically the Irish Government.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joe McHugh', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)'} {'name': 'Michael Gaffey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

AHEAD

September–December

[Employment] Invitation to Minister Finian McGrath to address a AHEAD WAM Event

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Finan McGrath', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Social Protection)'}

Simon Communities of Ireland

September–December

[Housing] Lobbying ahead of the Private Rental Strategy

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Bob Jordan', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Barry Cowen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Colette Kelleher', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Eoin Ó Broin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Caitriona Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)'} {'name': 'Enda Kenny', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} + 32 more

Vhi Group DAC

September–December

[Health] Overview of Private Health Insurance Market , Vhi , future demographic challenges ahead and general discussion on the Risk Equalisation Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Louise O'Reilly", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Harty', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Cork Chamber

September–December

[Local Government] Letter Campaign on the Local Property Tax ahead of Cork City Council's Budget vote

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ann Doherty', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Stephen Cunningham', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Ted Tynan', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Tim Brosnan', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Joe Kavanagh', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Thomas Gould', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} + 25 more

Cork Chamber

September–December

[Local Government] Commercial Rates ahead of Cork City Budget

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ann Doherty', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'John Hallahan', 'role': 'Head of Finance (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Pat Ledwidge', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'}

Red Flag Consulting Limited

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

September–December

[Food] Briefings ahead of the launch of the Irish whiskey tourism strategy and the economic investment in Midleton and Smithfield by Irish Distillers, the economic impact of whiskey tourism on rural Ireland, the whiskey tourism trail and the economic impact of Irish whiskey exports.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Heydon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jerry Buttimer', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Neale Richmond', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Paudie Coffey', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Seán Sherlock', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Tim Lombard', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 2 more

The Wheel

January–April

[Community] We communicated with various DPOs on social media and by letter congratulating them on their election success / appointment and noting that we were "looking forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to support a thriving community and voluntary sector''

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Stephen Donnelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Health)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} + 8 more

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

September–December

[Health] The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland sent briefing materials to all Oireachtas members ahead of the discussion on the Public Health Alcohol Bill 2015 at Cabinet

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Siobhán Creaton (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Advisor (Department of Education and Skills)'} {'name': 'Email All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'RCPI President, Prof Frank Murray, wrote to all Oireachtas Members to brief them on the contents of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 and to highlight how the evidence-based initiatives it contains can reduce the 3 deaths per day caused by alcohol use in Ireland and other associated health harms.'}

The Irish Blue Cross

September–December

[Environment] Dog microchipping funding sought from the Department of Agriculture, Food & The Marine to target the charity's needy clients to have their dogs microchipped ahead of new compulsory microchipping legislation in spring 2016.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

AHEAD

September–December

[Education and Training] To advocate the implementation of the Disability Act with regard to IEPs in education.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Jan O'Sullivan", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education and Skills)'}

AHEAD

September–December

[Education and Training] To change the current criteria regarding the provision of Reasonable Accommodations in State Examinations.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Aidan Farrell', 'role': 'CEO (State Examinations Commission)'}

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Five priorities of MRCI's Political Manifesto ahead of General Election 1. Regularisation for undocumented migrants, 2. Immigration reform 3. Change in sectors and conditions of Work Permits 4. Protection of exploited workers and people trafficked for forced labour and 4. Racism and Discrimination

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Trevor Ó Clochartaigh', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Irish Episcopal Conference

September–December

[Environment] Ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit in Paris, church representatives met on 18 November 2015 with the Ministers for the Environments in both jurisdictions and raised key concerns from a faith perspective by outlining the church's position on climate change in the context of Pope Francis' Enclyclical 'Laudato Si'.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Martin Long (Former DPO)', 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government)'} {'name': 'David Walsh', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs