Irish Episcopal Conference

Lobbying Organisation Irish Episcopal Conference

Date published 19 Sep, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May, 2019 to 31 Aug, 2019

Specific Details Issues pertinent to Catholic Education.

Intended results To discuss with Department of Education and Skills officials issues pertinent to Catholic Education.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Fr Paul Connell, Executive Secretary of the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference.

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)

Meeting on 13 June 2019 in the Department of Education and Skills (DES) offices in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The meeting was convened by the DES. Representing patrons in the Catholic sector in the company of Patrons/Trustees from all primary and post-primary stakeholders at a meeting convened by the DES on leases for schools on DES owned land.

Event / Reception (1)

Representing the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference at a Symposium organized by the Department of Education and Skills, held on 26 June 2019 and attended by Mr Joe McHugh TD, Minister for Education and Skills and Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development.

Letter (1)

Letter of reply dated 4 June 2019 to Mr Alan Wall, Assistant Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills from Bishop Tom Deenihan, informing Mr Wall that Fr Paul Connell had taken up his previous role as Executive Secretary of the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference and advising Mr Wall to contact Fr Connell in future.

Letter (1)

Letter dated 20 June 2019 to Mr Alan Wall, Assistant Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills informing him that Fr Paul Connell is the new Executive Secretary of the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference.

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.

Joe McHugh Minister (Department of Education and Skills)

Michael Ring Minister (Department of Rural and Community Development)