Restaurants Association of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Restaurants Association of Ireland

Date published 20 May, 2019

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Employment

Period 1 Jan, 2019 to 30 Apr, 2019

Specific Details Work Permits and specifically changes made in March 2018 to the ethnic chef / specialist cuisine work permits.

Intended results To understand why the change was made and to see if decision could be reversed by presenting evidence of individuals who had been negatively impacted.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Adrian Cummins

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)

Meeting with Senator Lawlor to convey concerns of a member of the Association and the Senators local area and former constituency, regarding a change to work permits and the negative impact that was having on that member (and many other members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland) business. Second meeting, held in advance of meeting with DBEI - Work Permits Section to discuss work permit issues following changes made in March 2018, specifically to the ethnic / specialist cuisine chef permits.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Senator Lawlor and representatives of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Work Permits Section to discuss issues with work permits following changes made in March 2018, specifically to the ethnic / specialist cuisine chef permits.

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.

Anthony Lawlor Senator (Seanad)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)