Shannon Chamber

Lobbying Organisation Shannon Chamber

Date published 21 Jan, 2025

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Employment

Period 1 Sep, 2024 to 31 Dec, 2024

Specific Details The proposed threshold increase for General Work Permits, set to take effect in January 2025

Intended results That the proposed change, and any final decision on future thresholds, would not be implemented pending further consultation with industry.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber

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)

7 October 2024: Meeting with Minister of State Emer Higgins and Cllr Tony Mulcahy at the Inn at Dromoland, and involving Chamber and members impacted by proposed change in salary threshold.

Meeting (1)

26 November 2024: Meeting, in Chamber board room, with Senator Timmy Dooley and members impacted by proposed change in salary threshold.

Email (1)

28 November 2024: Email to Ministers Jack Chambers TD and Paschal Donohue TD outlining issue and seeking urgent meeting to discuss.

Meeting (1)

5 December 2024: Meeting with Senator Timmy Dooley and Cathal Crowe TD, and including Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland (attended virtually) and members impacted by the proposed change in salary threshold.

Meeting (1)

14 Oct. 2024: Meeting with Senator Timmy Dooley in Shannon Chamber board room to give overview of impact the proposed change in work permits salary threshold will have on companies.

Virtual Meeting (1)

14 Oct. 2024: Online meeting with Cathal Crowe TD to give overview of impact the proposed change in work permits salary threshold will have on companies.

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.

Emer Higgins Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Timmy Dooley Senator (Seanad)

Cathal Crowe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tony Mulcahy Councillor (Clare County Council)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Finance)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)