Friends of the Earth

Lobbying Organisation Friends of the Earth

Date published 21 Sep, 2017

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 May, 2017 to 31 Aug, 2017

Specific Details Renewable Electricity Support Scheme

Intended results To ensure a fair payment for solar electricity, specifically for microgeneration by rooftop solar panels on homes, businesses, schools, sports clubs and community buildings.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Oisin Coghlan

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To sign and share our "Run On Sun" petition to Denis Naughten and Leo Varadkar for a fair payment for solar electricity

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members We circulated to all TDs and Senators on 30th August the press release launching new research we commissioned on the costs and benefits of guaranteed payments for microgeneration of renewable electricity by rooftop solar panels. The research concluded such support made sense and the press release called for Leo Varadkar and Denis Naughten to follow through on their stated support for rooftop solar.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Discussion with Minister Naughten as part of the (seperately reported) Stop Climate Chaos meeting with the Minister on 18th May.

Social Media (2-5)

Tweets supporting rooftop solar tagging Leo Varadkar and Denis Naughten.

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.

Denis Naughten Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)