Irish Wildbird Conservancy (BirdWatch Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation Irish Wildbird Conservancy

Date published 19 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Marine

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Marine Protected Area General Scheme

Intended results To raise concerns regarding the Marine Protected Areas General Scheme and ensure that environmental and biodiversity concerns were considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage ahead of the Committee reporting on their recommendations from the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny stage of the legislative process. To advocate for strong Marine Protected Area legislation in Ireland that could enable effective and well-managed Marine Protected Areas. Raise awareness of the need for Marine Protected Areas in Ireland, and gain support for strong marine protected area legislation which can support a healthy marine environment and communities.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sinéad Loughran

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.

Submission (2-5)

Submission provided to Committee in advance of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny session, along with summary of key points provided to Committee members. Follow up details and recommendations provided to Committee following Pre-Legislative Scrutiny session.

Meeting (1)

Attended Non-Governmental Organisation session of the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on the General Scheme for Marine Protected Areas.

Email (11-20)

Event / Reception (1)

Attended AV Room Event in Leinster House with Fair Seas Ireland, and hosted by Deputy Steven Matthews

Meeting (1)

Attended meeting with Minister McConalogue and Fair Seas Ireland to discuss the importance of strong and effective marine protected area legislation.

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.

Steven Matthews TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Eoin Ó Broin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cian O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul McAuliffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard O'Donoghue TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Emer Higgins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Flaherty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Francis Noel Duffy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Victor Boyhan Senator (Seanad)

John Cummins Senator (Seanad)

Mary Fitzpatrick Senator (Seanad)

Rebecca Moynihan Senator (Seanad)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Alice-Mary Higgins Senator (Seanad)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)