Overwatch Report

CRAOL

January–April

[Communications] A. Craol, with matched CBSS funding from Coimisiún na Meán has conducted an extensive audience survey. The aim of the amárach survey is to report audience feedback and take measurements in the Community Radio sector. B.That the Programme for Government includes the continuation of the rollout of the Future of Media Commission's Community Media Scheme for CRAOL for 2026

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Patrick O'Donovan", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Alan Dillon', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Communications] Craol would like a community media fund for community media to be included in legislation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Patrick O’Donovan', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Communications] Future of Media Commission , Budget 2025 and CRAOL Radio Research

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Kevin Boxer Moran', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Carrighy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Michael Murphy', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Michael Lowry', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Kelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

CRAOL

September–December

[Social Protection] Craol Pre Budget Submission

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All TDs', 'role': 'The email had 2 direct replies from Senator Malcolm Byrne and Michael Collins TD'}

CRAOL

January–April

[Community] Supporting Craol to discuss Sustainable Broadcasting across the Community Radio Sector.. Funding source for Craol to employ a Sustainability Coordinator who will works with member stations to become more Financially Sustainable by sourcing and distributing Advertising from Government Departments and Public Services Notices and by marketing accredited Training Courses available to Community Groups. National Groups & Individuals.

Public Officials Lobbied

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

CRAOL

May–August

[Community] Invite Minister to a demonstration of the first Community Media Hub,

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

CRAOL

January–April

[Communications] Asking Department to Consider that legislation make clear that paragraph 63.--2009 Act be used to license commercial and non-community media, such as communities of faith, which cannot be considered as a community of interest, in the full sense indicated in the legislation and in the BAI community media policy of 2021. • Paragraph 64:-- 2009 Act be retained to license those media that adhere to the Social Benefit and Community Media Policies adopted by the BAI

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'All members of Seanad were emailed a copy of letter that was sent to Minister Catherine Marti.'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Emer Currie', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Imelda Munster', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Fintan Warfield', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Marie Sherlock', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Communications] Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Email All Senators', 'role': 'Email sent by Jack Byrne on May 11th 2022.'} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Community] The SSN scheme and CSP funding for the Community Radio Sector.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Joe O'Brien", 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Communications] Issues affecting the Community Radio sector specifically future development and financial sustainability

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Dillon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Fintan Warfield', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Byrne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Johnny Mythen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 3 more

CRAOL

January–April

[Communications] Sought Meeting with Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Sought opportunity to address the Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, on Media Regulation Bill, Requested to speak at FoMC Thematic Dialogue Webinar.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Katherine Licken', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': "Roderic O'Gorman", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Communications] Attendance at the JOC Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Ciaran Cannon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Dillon', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Peter Fitzpatrick', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brendan Griffin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Mattie McGrath', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Imelda Munster', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 4 more

CRAOL

September–December

[Community] Attendance at the JOC-on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media regarding the challenges facing the broadcasting sector as a result of COVID-19

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': "Christopher O'Sullivan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Byrne', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Imelda Munster', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Johnny Mythen', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Micheál Carrigy', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Fintan Warfield', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 1 more

CRAOL

September–December

[Community] Meeting in Strasbourg with 4 MEP's to discuss: Fair and equitable distribution of Funding of the additional Receipts which will become available if / when the T.V Licence Fee is abolished and replaced with a household “Media Levy or Charge” . Fair and equitable distribution of Advertising opportunities to Community Radio in Ireland re. Public Interest Advertising on a statutory basis. To ensure that the Craol network are treated equitably in the forthcoming distribution of Journali

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Kelly', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Frances Fitzgerald', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Maria Walsh', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Barry Andrews', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Community] 1.Email to Catherine Martin, TD. Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media re legislation. 2. Zoom meeting with Ciara Cuff MEP re Broadcasting Bill and Funding. 3. Invitation to Malcom Noonan, to address Craol Membership at Annual Conference.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Ciarán Cuffe', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Malcolm Noonan', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'}

CRAOL

January–April

[Communications] Letter to Minister of Communications on the impact of Covid-19 on the Community Radio Sector and the need for removing the BAI Levy, Provide supports to the sector and to request that community radio be included in all government departments budgets for advertising and public notices thus ensuring the sector can generate revenue to ensure sustainability

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Community] A.Stability Scheme for Community and Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprise Organisations. B.Funding for the development and sustainability of the Community Radio sector. C. Invite Minister Martin to officially open Craol’s annual Feile. D.Community Radio be recognised as a vehicle for Advertising by Government Departments / State in the future .

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Heather Humphreys', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Social Protection)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Paul Donnelly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Claire Kerrane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': "Jim D'Arcy", 'role': 'Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'John McGahon', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Communications] 1. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland appointees to Authority. 2. Questions relating to the Media Commission. 3. Questions relating to JOC on Media. Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Niamh Smyth', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Catherine Martin', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)'} {'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)'}

CRAOL

January–April

[Communications] The Fianna Fail Motion regarding funding for Community Radio & that the present Motion does not specify ‘Community’, but ‘Independent’ radio

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Lisa Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Luke "Ming" Flanagan', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Rose Conway Walsh', 'role': 'Councillor (Mayo County Council)'} {'name': 'Dara Calleary', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Communications] In relation to the forthcoming Broadcasting Bill • Especially the Broadcasting levy on Community and highlighting to the Minister how the sector is highly concerned that the Bill refers to the Broadcasting Levy being open to an exemption for "some" Community Radio stations, but not others.. • How CRAOL welcomes potential new funding in the form of bursaries for journalists in Local and Community Radio stations, •

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Richard Bruton', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)'} {'name': 'Tommy Broughan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Communications] In relation to the forthcoming Broadcasting Bill • Especially the Broadcasting levy on Community Media and highlighting to the Minister how the sector is highly concerned that the Bill refers to the Broadcasting Levy being open to an exemption for "some" Community Radio stations, but not others.. We also wished to get clarity on the Journalism bursary recently announced by the Minister and the proposed broadcasting charge

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Joan Burton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Jack Chambers', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ruth Coppinger', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 20 more

CRAOL

January–April

[Communications] Meeting to inform the joint oireatas committee about community radio in Ireland

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

CRAOL

May–August

[Communications] We invited members of the JOC on Communications, Climate and Environment to our annual training event. We wanted to discuss with them to include community radio under public funding going forward. We also attended a public forum about public funding

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Timmy Dooley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Denis Naughten', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Hildegarde Naughton', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Community] Jeff Murphy met with Sean Kyne Minster of State for Rural and Community Affairs on the 19th Of October to give him a briefing paper on community radio and to seek a meeting to discuss issues concernig Pobal and the network

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Seán Kyne', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)'}

CRAOL

September–December

[Communications] Introduced the organisation and discussed possible new models of funding for the radio sector particularly around community radio sector

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Eamon Ryan', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Brian Stanley', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Willie Penrose', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs