CoAction West Cork (CoAction West Cork)

Lobbying Organisation CoAction West Cork

Date published 19 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Public Expenditure and Reform

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details Pay Restoration for CoAction West Cork Employees (Pay Restoration for Section 39 agencies)

Intended results To secure pay restoration for CoAction employees in line with other Section 39 agency staff who have already received same. The impact of Covid-19 and the lack of adequate allocation of resources (Capital & Revenue)

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tom Wilson Chair of the Board of Trustees of CoAction West Cork CLG and Brian Williams, member of Board of Trustees of CoAction West Cork CLG

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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Christopher O'Sullivan (Currently employed as a DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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.

Letter (6-10)

03.09.2020- Letter of invitation to attend meeting with Board of Trustees on either 12th or 16th October to discuss the key challenges facing CoAction including recruitment and the growing gap between the salary CoAction can offer potential staff compared to other similar organisations. Requested response on availability and preference of date.

Phone call (1)

10.09.2020 - Phone call received from Christopher O'Sullivan to CoAction Board member informing him that that he had secured speaking time in the Dail that evening on Disability’s with Minister Rabbittee who would be taking questions. Mr Williams also briefed Christopher O'Sullivan on recruitment issues and loss of staff through Covid-19 and lack of pay restoration.

Virtual Meeting (1)

16.10.2020 - Board of Trustees members met with the selected DPO's for a comprehensive briefing on pay restoration. Also raised concerns regarding retrospective funding cuts.

Phone call (1)

23.10.2020 - Board of Trustee member phoned Christopher O'Sullivan TD to thank him for succeeding in getting Anne Rabbittee, Minister of State on Disability to attend virtual meeting on 16.10.2020

Phone call (1)

10.11.2020 - Board of Trustee member phoned Christopher O'Sullivan TD seeking any updates on his efforts to get pay restoration on the agenda.

Phone call (1)

30.11.2020 - Board of Trustee member phoned Christopher O'Sullivan TD advising him of the urgency in achieving some positive movement on pay restoration in light of pending one day strike planned for 15th December.

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.

Holly Cairns TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Christopher O'Sullivan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tim Lombard Senator (Seanad)

Anne Rabbitte Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Denis O'Donovan Senator (Seanad)