Abbey Theatre

Lobbying Organisation Abbey Theatre

Date published 20 Sep, 2018

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Arts

Period 1 May, 2018 to 31 Aug, 2018

Specific Details Government meetings regarding draft Business Case for the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre, connected to Project Ireland 2040

Intended results Consideration of draft Business Case document, the final document will be submitted to government to secure funding for redevelopment of Abbey campus

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Chair of Board of the Abbey Theatre, Dr Frances Ruane

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 (2-5)

1. Meeting with Katherine Licken on June 7, presented copy of draft Business Case and updated her on Abbey Theatre developments. 2. Meeting with Katherine Licken & Minister Madigan on June 13, presented the Minister with a copy of the draft Business Case & also discussed two vacancies on the Abbey Theatre Board that were Ministerial appointments. 3. Meeting with Katherine Licken on July 26, presented indicative costs in relation to Abbey Redevelopment project as requested by her at June meeting. 4. An Taoiseach attended Two Pints at the Flowing Tide/Abbey Theatre on August 23. In conversation Dr Ruane raised with him the possibility that the play Two Pints might be put on in the Dail Bar. He enquired as to status of Abbey Theatre Redevelopment project and Dr Ruane summarised them and advised that we are awaiting further announcements from the Dept of CHG. He advised that he had received the invitation to Abbey Gala Dinner 2018 & would hope to attend, indicated potential diary issue.

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.

Josepha Madigan Minister (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

Katherine Licken Secretary General (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)