Irish Venture Capital Association

Lobbying Organisation Irish Venture Capital Association

Date published 18 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Economic Development and Industry

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Engagement with Ministers, TDs and officials regarding the IVCA Pre-Budget Submission 2027. Discussions focused on mobilising Irish pension savings and institutional capital into Irish venture capital and growth equity funds, addressing the scale-up funding gap, supporting Finance for Scale-Ups recommendations, and exploring an Irish fund-of-funds model to increase investment in Irish start-ups and scale-ups.

Intended results To influence Government policy and Budget 2027 measures relating to the mobilisation of Irish pension and institutional capital for investment in Irish venture capital and private equity funds, including consideration of an Irish fund-of-funds structure and measures to strengthen the availability of scale-up finance for Irish innovation-led businesses.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sarah Jane Larkin

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.

Email (2-5)

Submission and promotion of the IVCA's pre-budget recommendations to Ministers, TDs and senior public officials.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection, concerning the mobilisation of Irish pension savings and auto-enrolment assets to support investment in Irish venture capital and growth-stage companies. Discussion included the IVCA's pre-budget recommendations, increasing domestic institutional investment in Irish innovation, and policy measures to address the scale-up funding gap facing Irish companies.

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.

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Darragh Gallagher Adviser to Minister (Department of Social Protection)

Craig Dwyer Special Advisor (Department of Social Protection)

Simon Harris Tánaiste and Minister (Department of Finance)

Clare Mungovan Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Kieran McQuinn Special Advisor to the Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neil Cooney Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pearse Doherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aoife Masterson Councillor (Offaly County Council)

Sinéad Gibney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cian O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Albert Dolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Shay Brennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)