DBI Advisory & Services Company Limited By Guarantee (Digital Business Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation DBI Advisory & Services Company Limited By Guarantee

Date published 23 Dec, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Economic Development and Industry

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Funding and supports for digital businesses.

Intended results To seek additional funding, supports and provisions for businesses, including Budget measures, competitiveness initiatives, AI adoption, Grow Digital Voucher reform, and related public funding.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Caroline Dunlea

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)

William Lavelle (Former DPO) Special Adviser (Department of Justice)

Ferghal Blaney (Former DPO) Special Adviser (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

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 (31-50)

Multiple email communications regarding proposals, seeking support and requesting meetings to discuss items for inclusion in Budget 2026 relating to competitiveness initiatives, AI adoption, Grow Digital Voucher reform, and related public funding for businesses.

Meeting (2-5)

Various meetings with officials to discuss proposals and to seek support for Digital Business Ireland's pre-budget submission, and supports for innovation, education, digital upskilling, and regulatory guidance for businesses.

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.

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Laura Mannion Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Jean Carberry Assistant Secretary (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Harry McCann Special Adviser (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Dermot Coates Chief Economist (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Emer Higgins Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Malcolm Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Niamh Smyth Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Naoise O'Cearúil TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neale Richmond Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Emer Currie TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ryan O'Meara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Shane Moynihan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dee Ryan Senator (Seanad)

Joe Flaherty Senator (Seanad)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony Senator (Seanad)

Mark Daly Senator (Seanad)

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Jenny McCormack Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Dr. Des Hogan Data Protection Commissioner (Data Protection Commission)

Dale Sunderland Data Protection Commissioner (Data Protection Commission)