Limelight Communications

Lobbying Organisation Limelight Communications

Date published 22 Jan, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Transport

Period 1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021

Specific Details Covid 19 business supports & Government policy relating to International Travel. Challenges facing the Travel Industry as international travel resumes.

Intended results Financial supports for the Travel Industry due to COVID-19 pandemic until travel agents are in a position to earn revenue again. Calling on Government to reverse decision to cut EWSS and requesting that Travel Agents to be included in future financial supports.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kathryn Byrne

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? Members encouraged to communicate with their local TD. Supplied ITAA members with draft letter template appealing for business supports to save their industry.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? Yes

Client(s)

Client 1

Company name IRISH TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION

CRO number (if applicable)

Company address 6 - 9 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 EY47

Main business or activity Representative Body

Company website www.itaa.ie

Contact email address info@itaa.ie

Contact phone number 353 1 417 9696

Contact address 6 - 9 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 EY47

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Emails issued on behalf of Pat Dawson, CEO of the ITAA, highlighting the situation Travel Agents are in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outbound Travel Agency Industry in jeopardy of close down. Seeking their support and calling on them to make representations to the Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure for budget support for the travel industry.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

Virtual meetings with relevant Government Ministers, Ministerial advisers and officials - seeking continued access to grants and financial supports for the Travel Industry due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Email (6-10)

Emails seeking business support for Travel Industry. Follow up on previous business supports proposal submitted to relevant Ministers and advisers.

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.

Kieran O'Donnell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Hildegarde Naughton Super Junior Minister (Department of Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport)

Darren O'Rourke TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Duncan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Paul Melia Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)

Jerry Buttimer Senator (Seanad)

Denise Duffy Press Adviser (Department of Transport)

Grant Sweetnam Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Kevin Barrett Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Deirdre Gillane Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)