Council of The Bar of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Council of The Bar of Ireland

Date published 21 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2026 to 30 Apr, 2026

Specific Details Invitation to meet with members of the Bar of Ireland to discuss various legal reforms currently underway

Intended results To secure a meeting between members of The Bar and parliamentary party members and officials to discuss topics including judicial review, the Civil Reform Bill, Civil Legal Aid and Criminal Legal Aid.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elaine Bardon

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

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

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.

Jim O'Brien Special Advisor (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Deirdre Gillane Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

Pat McParland Deputy Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

Diarmuid Lynch Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Gráinne Weld Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Sharon McGowan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michaela Reilly Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Killian Ginnity Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Kieran McQuinn Special Advisor to the Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Paraic Gallagher Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Ian Power Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Sarah Bardon Chief of Staff (Department of the Taoiseach)

Joanne Lonergan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Jack O’Donnell Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Pauric McPhillips Special Advisor to the Tanaiste (Department of the Taoiseach)

Stephen Kinsella Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Max Murphy Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Clare Mungovan Special Adviser (Department of the Taoiseach)

Niall O’ Connor Special Advisor (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Conor Glynn Special Advisor to the Tanaiste (Department of the Taoiseach)

Andrew Smith Adviser to Minister of State (Department of Finance)

Brian Purcell Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Barry Cassidy Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Maria Burke Adviser to Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Fiona Geoghegan Adviser to Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Theresa Newman Special Adviser (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Michael O’Connor Special Adviser (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Michael Brennan Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Aisling Dunne Special Adviser (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Treasa Kelly Special Advisor (Department of Social Protection)

Siobhan Russell Adviser to Minister (Department of Transport)

Pádraig Hughes Special Adviser (Department of Transport)

Angelina Nugent Adviser to Minister (Department of Transport)

Paul Melia Special Advisor (Department of Education)

Denise Duffy Special Advisor (Department of the Taoiseach)

Noel Byrne Adviser to Minister of State (Department of Education)

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

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

Ellen McGrath Special Advisor (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Katie McNamee Special Adviser (Department of Education)

Daniel Griffin Special Adviser (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Amii McKeever Special Advisor (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

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

Jim O'Brien Special Advisor (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Stephen Foley Special Adviser (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Bríd Murphy Adviser to Minister (Department of Health)

Briege MacOscar Adviser to Minister of State (Department of Health)

John McDonald Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Síona Cahill Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Ciara Phelan Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Hannah Hamilton Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Adrian O'Higgins Special Advisor (Department of Justice)

Suzanne Coogan Press Adviser (Department of Justice)

Jack White Special Advisor (Department of Justice)

Robert Lahiff Special Advisor (Department of Justice)

Sam Griffin Adviser to Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Shane Smyth Adviser to Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Craig Dwyer Special Advisor (Department of Social Protection)