Alcohol Action Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Alcohol Action Ireland

Date published 17 May, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Jan, 2016 to 30 Apr, 2016

Specific Details Public Health (Alcohol) BIll, 2015

Intended results Greater understanding of the Bill and ensure Bill as it currently is drafted becomes Law

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Catherine Keane

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? Invited members of the Public via Social Media to log onto our website and get in touch with their local TD/Senator or MEP to support this legislation

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Email to all Oireachtas members requesting they include a commitment to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in their election manifestos

Letter All Oireachtas Members Email to all Oireachtas members requesting they prioritise Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in their list of priorities for a new Programme for Government

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Event / Reception (1)

Fine Gael Ard Fheis. AAI took a stand at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis along with many other NGO's. The NGO's each had a stand which was situated in the exhibition are of the CityWest Convention centre. We paid Fine Gael a fee for attending. At the event we distributed information to delegates on the legislation and also generally on alcohol harm in Ireland. There we met with two Government Ministers and discussed the legislation with them. We also discussed the issue of the Road Safety Authority's partnership with Drinkaware with Minister Donohoe and how we felt this relationship was inappropriate. Our main contacts during the day came from members of fine gael and other delegates at the event.

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.

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)

Leo Varadkar Minister (Department of Health)