Macra na Feirme

Lobbying Organisation Macra na Feirme

Date published 21 Jan, 2021

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2020 to 31 Dec, 2020

Specific Details Equality of access to funds for Ag college students

Intended results To secure funds for agricultural college students from the government announced 3rd level hardship and laptop loan schemes to support 3rd level students with online learning resources

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Denis Duggan, Chief Executive; Thomas Duffy, National President; Derrie Dillion, Head of Advocacy, Policy & Membership; & Gillian Richardson, Ag Policy Officer

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.

Email (6-10)

Emails to DPOs highlighting unfairness of excluding Agricultural College Students from existing schemes and seeking funds to include Agricultural College Students

Letter (2-5)

Formal letters to DPOs seeking meetings to discuss and highlighting unfairness of excluding Agricultural College Students from existing schemes and seeking funds to include Agricultural College Students

Phone call (2-5)

Phone calls with DPOs to seeking funds to include Agricultural College Students in hardship schemes

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.

Patrick Donohoe Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

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

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

Brendan Gleeson Secretary General (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)