Ennis Chamber of Commerce

Lobbying Organisation Ennis Chamber of Commerce

Date published 03 Mar, 2026

Relevant Matter Zoning or development

Public Policy Area Development and Zoning

Period 1 Sep. 2025 to 31 Dec. 2025

Specific Details Ennis Chamber commissioned a report - Ennis Residential Zoning Profile - to examine how many residential zoned sites within Ennis Municipal District have been partially or fully activated within Clare County Development plan 2023 - 2029. The resulting fact-based report provided a basis for conversations & meetings between Ennis Chamber members, with members of Clare County Council senior management team, locally elected members (councillors and TDs) and with the relevant government Minister

Intended results To raise concerns about the need to activate more residential sites where necessary services are available, and to lobby for necessary infrastructure upgrades (specifically an upgrade to Clareabbey wastewater treatment plant - currently at capacity) in order to advance housing targets in Ennis Municipal District.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Diarmuid McMahon, President Ennis Chamber, Margaret O'Brien CEO, Ennis Chamber and members of Ennis Chamber 'Property Developer Committee'.

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Diarmuid McMahon President of Ennis Chamber Margaret O'Brien, CEO of Ennis Chamber, members of Ennis Chambers 'Property Developer' committee and author of the Ennis Zoning Report Justin Gleeson of People & Place consultants met on September 24th with Chief Executive of Clare County Council Gordon Daly and members of the senior management team, involved in planning/ housing /development.

Meeting (1)

Diarmuid McMahon President of Ennis Chamber, Margaret O'Brien, CEO of Ennis Chamber, and a representative of Ennis Chambers 'Property Developer' committee met with Joe Cooney TD on October 5th to discuss key findings in Ennis Chamber's report on residential zoning in Ennis, and to ask Deputy Cooney to seek investment in Clareabbey Waste Water Treatment Plant, which is currently at full capacity.

Meeting (1)

Diarmuid McMahon President and Margaret O'Brien, CEO of Ennis Chamber, members of Ennis Chamber 'Property Developer' committee and author of the Ennis Zoning Report Justin Gleeson of People & Place consultants, met with elected members of Ennis Municipal District on October 21st, to discuss the findings of Ennis Chamber's report on residential zoning in Ennis, and to ask the elected councillors to seek investment in Clareabbey Waste Water Treatment Plant, which is currently at full capacity.

Meeting (1)

President and CEO of Ennis Chamber met with Cathal Crowe TD on October 28, to discuss findings in Ennis Chamber's report on residential zoning in Ennis, and to ask the elected councillors to seek investment in Clareabbey Waste Water Treatment Plant, currently at capacity. We requested that Deputy Crowe present Ennis Chamber's Report on Ennis Residential Zoning to Minister James Browne on our behalf, which was done.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Gordon Daly Chief Executive Officer (Clare County Council)

Jason Murphy Acting Director of Service (Clare County Council)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Howard Councillor (Clare County Council)

Clare Colleran Molloy Councillor (Clare County Council)

Pat Daly Councillor (Clare County Council)

Antoinette Baker Bashua Councillor (Clare County Council)

Paul Murphy Councillor (Clare County Council)

James Browne Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)