The Wheel

Lobbying Organisation The Wheel

Date published 18 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Community

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details The Wheel hosted Mary Lou McDonald, Leader of Sinn Fein, at a members meeting

Intended results To ensure political party leaders have first-hand insights into the developmental needs of community and voluntary organisations

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ivan Cooper, Director of Public Policy

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 (1)

Matters contained in our Pre-Budget submission were discussed including the need for Government to • streamline, reduce and rationalise the compliance and reporting requirements facing non-profits – this will free-up time and energy and resources in the sector to innovate and respond to need • ensure that statutory funders make dedicated funds available as part of their funding lines to enable non-profits they work with to meet the costs-of-compliance they face. • ensure statutory funders reverse the funding cuts initiated in 2008/2009 and ensure budgets are adequate to meet the costs of services, • urgently address the unsustainable rise in insurance premiums facing charities. • incentivise mergers and cover the costs of mergers by providing a dedicated budget in 2019 to support mergers for those charities that wish to enter into merger arrangements with other charities. • to ensure that the Department of Rural and Community Development’s strategies are fully resourced.

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.

Mary Lou McDonald TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)