Ballina Chamber of Commerce

Lobbying Organisation Ballina Chamber of Commerce

Date published 21 Jan, 2016

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Tourism

Period 1 Sep, 2015 to 31 Dec, 2015

Specific Details Ballina Chamber of Commerce meet monthly with elected public reps and Director of service of Municipal District Council to discuss promotions and marketing of the Mayo North region, creating and devising tourism policies and wider issues affecting Hospitality providers in the region. Within the monthly meetings, funding is discussed, how the current funding is utilised and how to secure continued funding in 2016. This was a hot topic towards the later end of year when budgets were being approved

Intended results Tourism strategies, funding and continued funding in 2016, for marketing and promotions and support from elected councilors and Ballina Municipal District Council, regarding road closures, planning of events in the area.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity President of the Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Connolly, Chamber Council Office Manager; Mags Martin and members of the Hospitality representatives (Hotels, Rachael Moylett and Alan Maloney)

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.

Meeting (2-5)

The nature of the meeting/lobbying is entitled 'Destination Steering Group' Monthly meetings, which took place in September, October, November and December 2015. They are used to strategise and review marketing and tourism promotion activities ongoing in the Mayo North region. Using funding from the Ballina Municipal District Council, a promotions office is accountable to the committee and makes presentations as to the allocation of the public funding and justifying their existence. The existence of this promotions office is crucial to the area, as there has never been such a group to marketing Mayo North. Therefore the Chamber of Commerce supports the Promotions office as the Chamber works hand in hand with the said office in creating events and festivals for the town and region; the steering committee also review the work and gives feedback on additional activities that could also be undertaken. The Chamber also lobbys at meetings for continued funding in 2016.

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.

Neil Cruise Councillor (Mayo County Council)

Michael Loftus Councillor (Mayo County Council)

Paul Benson Director of Services or Equivalent (Mayo County Council)