Irish Franchise Association (Irish Franchise Association)

Lobbying Organisation Irish Franchise Association

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Economic Development and Industry

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Government supports not available to the Business Format Franchise community

Intended results 1.IFA Representative group meeting at Ministerial level 2. Introduce the VOLUNTARY representative group of business format franchising across Ireland. 3.Highlight the success of business format franchising to key policy & decision makers 3. Investigate the opportunity for support in conducting a sector and Economic Impact Survey. 4.Explore possible amendments to current government policy of not supporting the franchise sector in the same way as standalone start up businesses are supported.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity David Killeen. CEO Irish Franchise Association

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)

Greg Swift (Currently employed as a DPO) Director (Dublin City Council)

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.

Event / Reception (1)

Attended the Fine Gael Small Business & Enterprise Conference In Waterford. Sept 2023. Met Minister Coveney and requested a meeting with him or Minister Richmond. Met David Stanton at this event and promised to reconnect with him once we had a meeting with the Minister.

Email (6-10)

Received an email in response to our initial request from Minister Coveney and arranged a meeting with Minister Richmond and his team on 9th January 2024

Meeting (1)

Attended meeting with Minister Richmond and his team to discuss the agenda items, having circulated a position paper on the Franchise Association and the key asks in advance. We have been asked to submit a proposal as to what our key asks are and it will be reviewed.

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.

Neale Richmond TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Simon Coveney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Stanton TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)