Overwatch Report

Sustainable Water Network (SWAN)

January–April

[EU Affairs] Sent letter to Minister Darragh O’Brien, Minister Christopher O'Sullivan urging him to defend the Water Framework Directive (WFD) ahead of the EU Environment Council on 17 March 2026. Letter was forwarded to Minister James Browne

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)'} {'name': 'Christopher O’Sullivan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Depot visit and tour to discuss GAI bus services and operations and wider transport objectives

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Depot visit and tour to discuss GAI bus services in North County Dublin

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Grace Boland', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Meeting chaired by Minister to discuss short-medium term actions to help reduce traffic congestion in the Greater Dublin Area. Attending by CEOs and Deputies of Transport Operators, Authorities and Councils along with senior DfT civil servants

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Meeting to discuss GAI services in his constituency and Greater Dublin Area in role as Deputy Chair of Transport Committee

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Moynihan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Teams meeting to discuss GAI services in Wicklow

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jennifer Whitmore', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

ESB

September–December

[Energy and Natural Resources] ESB outlined its priorities for EU energy policy ahead of Ireland’s EU Presidency, focusing on three areas: 1. Accelerating infrastructure to support renewables, grid development and system flexibility 2. Improving energy efficiency and electrification to cut fossil fuel reliance. 3. Ensuring an affordable, cost effective transition to a decarbonised energy system

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Inclusion Ireland

September–December

[Budgetary matters] Along with colleagues in the Oireachtas Disability Group, we briefed members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party about our key priorities ahead of Budget 2026

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul McAuliffe', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Martin Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Seamus McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Erin McGreehan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Cormac Devlin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aisling Dempsey', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

Amnesty International Ireland

September–December

[Foreign Affairs] Email ahead of EU Foreign Affairs Council forwarding Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and FIDH "Joint Statement: EU must act to save lives and end impunity in Eastern DRC"

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Cork Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Meeting to discuss priorities for Cork ahead of delegation trip to US

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dan Boyle', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Rebecca Loughry', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'}

Cork Chamber

January–April

[Tourism] Meeting to discuss priorities for Cork ahead of delegation trip to US

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dan Boyle', 'role': 'Councillor (Cork City Council)'} {'name': 'Rebecca Loughry', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Cork City Council)'}

Gorta

January–April

[Food] SHA contributed technical input to a joint policy initiative, “The Best Ireland Can Be for Food and Nutrition Security,” led by Concern Worldwide. Presented in Dublin ahead of the Nutrition for Growth Summit, it showcased Ireland’s global impact on nutrition. Encouragingly, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling malnutrition at the Summit.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Troy', 'role': 'Specialist (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Discussion of bus services in North Dublin area

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Corina Johnston', 'role': 'Councillor (Fingal County Council)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Discussion of bus services in Dublin Mid West area

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Shane Moynihan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Discussion of bus services in Dublin South-West area

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Lahart', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Meeting with Lusk Action Group to discuss bus services

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Go-Ahead Transport Services Ltd

January–April

[Transport] Meeting of Public Transport Safety Working Group

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'}

ActionAid Ireland

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Communication ahead of the St Patricks delegation to the United States

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'} {'name': "Darragh O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Transport)'} {'name': 'Peter Burke', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 2 more

Amnesty International Ireland

January–April

[Foreign Affairs] Sharing letter sent to EU HR/VP Kallas and Foreign Affairs Ministers by our European Institutions Office Director ahead of EU-Israel Association Council meeting

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

May–August

[EU Affairs] Email ahead of EU FAC Meeting: EU-Israel Association Agreement must be suspended

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Micheál Martin', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Simon Communities of Ireland

May–August

[Housing] Submission ahead of Dáil Statements on Housing

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Submission All Oireachtas Members', 'role': ''}

Lir Communications Ltd

on behalf of Yes (client not named)

May–August

[Education and Training] Meeting ahead of Explorium’s one-year anniversary since re-opening.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lorraine Hall (Currently employed as a DPO)', 'role': 'Councillor (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council)'} {'name': 'Neale Richmond', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

BeLonG To Youth Services Ltd.

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Delivered Belong To's pre-Budget submission to Ministers ahead of Budget 2026.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Education)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Health)'}

Inclusion Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] We contacted Deputy Quinlivan in his capacity as Cathaoirleach of the Disability Matters Committee to invite him to a briefing of Inclusion Ireland's and Committee's respective policy priorities ahead of the 34ú Dáil.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maurice Quinlivan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Inclusion Ireland

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Inclusion Ireland, along with colleagues from other organisations making up the Oireachtas Disability Group, met with the Social Democrats' Disability spokesperson Liam Quaide TD present our collective priorities ahead of Budget 2026.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Liam Quaide', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Inclusion Ireland

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Inclusion Ireland, along with colleagues from other organisations making up the Oireachtas Disability Group, met with Rauirí Ó Murchú TD to present our collective priorities ahead of Budget 2026.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ruairí Ó Murchú', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Inclusion Ireland

May–August

[Budgetary matters] Inclusion Ireland, along with colleagues from other organisations making up the Oireachtas Disability Group, met with representatives in Richard Boyd Barret TD's and Paul Murphy TD's offices to present our collective priorities ahead of Budget 2026.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Boyd Barrett', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Paul Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

AHEAD

May–August

[Education and Training] Raising access for disabled learners to Postgraduate study and early career research and requesting a meeting between Minister James Lawless with LaunchPad Ambassadors to discuss.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)'}

The Wheel

May–August

[Community] The Wheel, alongside other representatives from the Community and Voluntary Pillar, met with Ministers Donohoe and Chambers ahead of Budget 2026.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Afri

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Afri and Comhlámh launched a public campaign ahead of the September Hague Group deadline. We asked civil society organisations to sign a joint open letter, share the campaign with #HagueGroupNow, and encourage staff to act. We asked individuals to sign a petition and use the Uplift tool to email their TDs urging Ireland to join the Hague Group and adopt its measures. No direct contact with DPOs took place in this period.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'Yes. Afri and Comhlámh managed a campaign using an Uplift email-sending tool, which enabled members of the public to email their TDs individually, calling on the Government to join the Hague Group and adopt its measures. We also used email newsletters and social media to mobilise the public, though no bulk messages were sent directly by Afri/Comhlámh to Designated Public Officials.'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs