The Representative Church Body (The Representative Church Body)

Lobbying Organisation The Representative Church Body

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Seeking to discuss a possible exemption for Church of Ireland parishes in relation to proposed new landlord and tenant legislation and the Vacant Homes Tax in connection with church houses. In the RCB’s view, the proposed legislation and the Vacant Homes Tax fail to take into account the peculiar situation of Church of Ireland clergy houses, which may be vacant for short periods of time, and this has unintended negative implications for parishes and for the operational efficiency of the Church.

Intended results To inform Government of the unintended negative implications for the Church of Ireland of the proposed new landlord and tenant legislation and the Vacant Homes Tax, with a view to seeking an exemption.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Mr Leslie Ruttle; Rt Rev Paul Colton

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.

Informal communication (1)

Informal communication from Mr Ruttle to Neale Richmond, TD making an initial approach with a view to seeking to secure a meeting with the relevant Ministers to discuss the matter.

Email (1)

Email communication dated 15 September 2025 from Mr Ruttle to Neale Richmond, TD outlining the matter and seeking to secure a meeting with the relevant Ministers to discuss.

Letter (2-5)

Letters dated 23 October 2025 from Mr Ruttle to Ministers Browne and Cummins outlining the matter and seeking to secure a meeting to discuss.

Informal communication (1)

Informal conversation between Bishop Colton and An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, TD on 30 November 2025.

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.

Neale Richmond TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

John Cummins Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)