Local Ireland (representing the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Local Ireland (representing the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland)

Date published 04 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Communications

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Email requesting meeting with Minister Martin regarding supports for local news publishers and subsequent meeting with Minister Martin. Email requesting meeting with Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar. Meeting pending.

Intended results Improved Government support for policy and economic issues facing local news publishers.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Bob Hughes

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?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Bob Hughes (Former DPO) Special Advisor (Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Request for support for local news publishers

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Oireachtas Members Physical copy of Local Ireland newspaper outlining the importance of all Local Ireland member titles to their communities with a call for support and policy implementation.

Email All Oireachtas Members Soft copy of Local Ireland newspaper outlining the importance of all Local Ireland member titles to their communities with a call for support and policy implementation.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Meeting with Minister Martin and officials

Email (2-5)

Emails to Minister Martin and Minister Varadkar requesting meetings

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.

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Leo Varadkar Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)