Alcohol Forum Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Alcohol Forum Ireland

Date published 22 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Concern regarding possible conflict of interest issues relating to the involvement of gambling industry funded charity, the Gambling Awareness Trust in funding activities in Irish health and education settings (both secondary and third level)

Intended results Response from Government and from Taoiseach in regard to ensuring that Irish health and education activities are free from the corrosive impact of the gambling industry

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paula Leonard

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)

Roisin Shortall (Former DPO) TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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.

Letter (1)

- Letter of concern signed by over 50 Irish and global public health experts and community representatives through the Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network. Submitted on Nov 9th - Communication in advance by email with member of Cabinet and also with Taoiseach's office to inform Government of letter and to ask a representative to pick up letter from representatives of the signatories on Nov 9th

Email (11-20)

- Communication with a number of DPO's in regard to concerns outlined in the letter of concern and to request that they would raise PQ's in respect to the concerns outlined in the 'Letter of Concern'

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 Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Mark Wall Senator (Seanad)

Thomas Pringle TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Thomas Gould TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)