Overwatch Report

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Taxation] Set up a Cost of Business Advisory Forum.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Taxation] Implement the SME test to scrutinise every new piece of legislation and regulation for its impact on SMEs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Trade] Identify regulations that are now redundant

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Education and Training] Ensure a skilled labour force by providing practical support for on-the-job training and apprenticeship schemes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[EU Affairs] identify regulations that are now redundant

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Employment] Additional measures to support SMEs in accessing training funded by the NTF and reduce the costs associated with taking on apprentices.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] implement the SME test to scrutinise every new piece of legislation and regulation for its impact on SMEs

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Trade] Set up a Cost of Business Advisory Forum.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Jason Murphy', 'role': 'Councillor (Waterford City and County Council)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Government renovation grants, while addressing the housing crisis, are leading to the full conversion of town centre buildings—including ground floors—into residential units. This is accelerating the decline of commercial space in towns

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán McKeown', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Quinn', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Ivan Grimes', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Niall Cussen', 'role': 'Planning Regulator (Office of the Planning Regulator)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Call to Review Grant Criteria Based on Employee Numbers and include freelancers & contractors when considering company size

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Employment] Increasing difficulty in contracting freelancers and confusion over types of contracts necessary. When is a contractor an employee?

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Housing] Planning departments across local authorities are under-resourced, leading to significant delays in processing applications and progressing critical development

Public Officials Lobbied

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

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Regulation of Short-Term Lettings - Current policy links planning permission with STTL registration, creating confusion and fear among potential providers.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] • Infrastructure investment to bring energy ashore at Waterford—grid capacity, ports, and planning readiness are all essential. • A commitment from Government to actively support Waterford’s inclusion in the offshore wind buildout—not just as a zone on a map, but as a strategic energy hub

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Banking and Financial Institutions] • Encourage financial institutions to modernise lending criteria to include contractors and self-employed professionals. Current lending policies risk sidelining a growing segment of the workforce

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Reform Public Procurement to Support MSMEs and Ensure Fair Competition

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[EU Affairs] Reduce Competitiveness & Over Regulation

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Improved Services & Infrastructure. Improved delivery of water infrsatructure and services. Without timely upgrades, rural towns risk being left behind.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Improved Services & Infrastructure

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] Call to Review Grant Criteria Based on Employee Numbers and include freelancers & contractors when considering company size

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Housing] Planning departments across local authorities are under-resourced, leading to significant delays in processing applications and progressing critical development

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Regulation of Short-Term Lettings - Current policy links planning permission with STTL registration, creating confusion and fear among potential providers.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] Government renovation grants, while addressing the housing crisis, are leading to the full conversion of town centre buildings—including ground floors—into residential units. This is accelerating the decline of commercial space in towns

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Seán McKeown', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Michael Quinn', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Ivan Grimes', 'role': 'Director of Services or Equivalent (Waterford City and County Council)'} {'name': 'Niall Cussen', 'role': 'Planning Regulator (Office of the Planning Regulator)'} + 1 more

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Economic Development and Industry] • Infrastructure investment to bring energy ashore at Waterford—grid capacity, ports, and planning readiness are all essential. • A commitment from Government to actively support Waterford’s inclusion in the offshore wind buildout—not just as a zone on a map, but as a strategic energy hub

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Development and Zoning] meaningful investment & forward planning for Dungarvan.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] More ambition around Town Center First projects and better polocies for mid size towns like Dungarvan, current policies favouring small towns.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

May–August

[Economic Development and Industry] Reform Public Procurement to Support MSMEs and Ensure Fair Competition

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Billy Kelleher', 'role': 'MEP (European Parliament)'} {'name': 'Emer Higgins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

May–August

[Local Government] Devolving greater authority and resources to local authorities

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Fiona Quinn', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'David Cullinane', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Conway', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} + 23 more

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

September–December

[Development and Zoning] Promote mixed-use development

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Conway', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber

September–December

[Economic Development and Industry] Housing grants are unintentionally hollowing out Dungarvan’s commercial heart. Ground-floor business premises are being lost to residential use.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John Cummins', 'role': 'Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)'} {'name': 'Mary Butler', 'role': 'Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Conor D McGuinness', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Joe Conway', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs