Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland (SFMI)

Lobbying Organisation Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland

Date published 07 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Economic Development and Industry

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Pre-Budget 2026 Oireachtas Briefing

Intended results To encourage Oireachtas members to raise these issues with Government, build cross-party awareness and secure support for policy measures contained in SFMI's pre-Budget 2026 submission in order to promote fairness and compliance within the marketplace.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Colin Ahern

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.

Lobby day (1)

SFMI hosted a Budget 2026 briefing session for Oireachtas members in Buswell’s Hotel, Dublin. The purpose of the engagement was to inform TDs and Senators about SFMI’s pre-Budget priorities, highlight the ongoing challenges of illegal solid fuel imports and weak enforcement, and to propose constructive measures that protect compliant businesses, rural households and public health.

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.

Rónán Mullen Senator (Seanad)

Frank O'Flynn Councillor (Cork County Council)

Maria Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Aoife Masterson Councillor (Offaly County Council)

Ryan O'Meara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

William Aird TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan Senator (Seanad)

Noel McCarthy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Healy-Rae Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Cathal Byrne Senator (Seanad)

Pauline Tully Senator (Seanad)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Education)

John McGuinness TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Imelda Goldsboro Senator (Seanad)