Rehab Group

Lobbying Organisation Rehab Group

Date published 20 Sep, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Employment

Period 1 May, 2024 to 31 Aug, 2024

Specific Details Visit of Minister Ossian Smyth to Rehab Enterprises in Tallaght, 02/06/2024

Intended results To give the Minister a tour of the facility, meet the employees and give a presentation on Rehab Enterprises, outlining the challenges facing the organisation and the need to address the low rates of employment of people with disabilities in Ireland. Reform of the Wage Subsidy Scheme including linking with increases in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) . To restore rate of WSS to 70% of NMW from the current rate of 49.5% To ensure that Ireland makes full use of Article 20 of EU Procurement Directive where reserved contracts can be awarded to social enterprises employing people with a disability.in public procurement tenders.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kevin Gregory

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)

Emer Costello (Former DPO) MEP (European Parliament)

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.

Email (2-5)

Inviting the Minister to Rehab Enterprises Tallaght and arranging the date and time. Providing briefing material in advance of visit.

Event / Reception (1)

Minister Smyth took a tour of Rehab Enterprises and listened to a presentation. Issues raised with the Minister included social procurement policies and reform of the Wage Subsidy Scheme. Also highlighted the contribution of Rehab Enterprises to the Circular Economy.

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.

Ossian Smyth Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)