Ballina Chamber of Commerce

Lobbying Organisation Ballina Chamber of Commerce

Date published 20 Sep, 2022

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 May, 2022 to 31 Aug, 2022

Specific Details Requests for budgetary supports from Mayo County Councils’ Ballina Municipal District Council General Municipal Allocation (GMA) funding for Ballina Salmon Festival, Irelands oldest community festival along the Wild Atlantic Way, and economic driver of revenue to Co Mayo annual.

Intended results Additional funding from Ballina Municipal Council GMA funding to ensure the financial return of Ballina Salmon Festival after a three-year absence due to Covid.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Margaret Downey Martin

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.

Phone call (2-5)

Chairpersons of the festival made several calls to Ballina Municipal District Councillors requesting continued support for the festival, to ensure its financial return to Ballina and Co Mayo, after a three-year absence due to Covid. The festival delivers an annual revenue return of over €4 million to the economy of the county, in July every year.

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.

Jarlath Munnelly Councillor (Mayo County Council)

Annie May Reape Councillor (Mayo County Council)

John O'Hara Councillor (Mayo County Council)

Seamus Weir Councillor (Mayo County Council)

Mark Duffy Councillor (Mayo County Council)

Michael Loftus Councillor (Mayo County Council)