Vintners' Federation of Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Michael Brennan (Special Adviser), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Emer Higgins (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Treasa Kelly (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: To ensure an understanding of VFI industry perspectives on the proposed legislation (Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025).

Methods: EmailInformal communication

Politician(s) lobbied: James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Carol Nolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ryan O'Meara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tony McCormack (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ollie Crowe (Senator), Seanad; Linda Nelson Murray (Senator), Seanad; Seán Kyne (Senator), Seanad; Dee Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Simon Harris (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Clare Mungovan (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Conor Glynn (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of the Taoiseach; Niall O'Connor (Special Adviser), Department of Rural and Community Development; Clare Costello (Assistant Secretary), Department of Finance; Sinead Ryan (Assistant Secretary), Department of Finance; George Lawlor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Catherine Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shane Curley (Senator), Seanad; Pat Casey (Senator), Seanad; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Lowry (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Erin McGreehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peadar Tóibín (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Naoise O'Cearúil (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Flaherty (Senator), Seanad; PJ Murphy (Senator), Seanad; Fiona O'Loughlin (Senator), Seanad; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Diarmuid Lynch (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Kieran McQuinn (Special Advisor to the Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Laura Mannion (Special Adviser), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Robert Troy (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Andrew Smith (Adviser to Minister of State), Department of Finance; Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh (Policy and Programme for Government Coordinator for Independents), Department of the Taoiseach; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Rural and Community Development

Intent: To seek support for the pub sector in Budget 2027, relating to our proposed on-trade sustainability scheme which seeks to develop a tax credit on draught kegs to reduce publicans overall costs and increases their viability as businesses.

Methods: EmailInformal communicationMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: Unknown

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Paul Lawless (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Lowry (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Edward Timmins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Neville (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: A reduction in excise duty would be the fairest and most effective way to support all pubs and the VFI is proposing a rebate scheme on the excise paid on draught beer/cider.::There has been a 20% drop in licensed taxi drivers over the past 13 years which severely impacts pubs; late-night trade and customer safety. We are asking for support to urgently reform the taxi sector by reforming of entry tests, increasing funding for taxi grants and increase the number of taxis.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: A reduction in excise duty would be the fairest and most effective way to support all pubs and the VFI is proposing a rebate scheme on the excise paid on draught beer/cider.::There has been a 20% drop in licensed taxi drivers over the past 13 years which severely impacts pubs; late-night trade and customer safety. We are asking for support to urgently reform the taxi sector by reforming of entry tests, increasing funding for taxi grants and increase the number of taxis.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: To meet with the Minister following his invitation to business groups to bring forward sector-specific ideas for future supports. The VFI is calling for a scheme that would offer a 40% excise rebate on draught products up to a maximum rebate value of €20,000. This would provide direct relief to publicans while encouraging on-trade consumption.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: To remind the Minister of his confirmation that a new appeals system for the Power Up Grant would open at the start of 2025 so that business would have the opportunity to challenge misclassification and render them eligible for the €4k Power Up Grant which should be paid by the end of February.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: As there has been a significant decline (20%) in cruiser traffic on the Shannon since 2018 any new charges or levies will impact negatively on our members and other tourism businesses in small towns and villages along the waterways. We call on the Minister to instigate an independent study to ascertain the effect these increases would have.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Simon Harris (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Jim O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert Troy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To call on the Ministers to initiate a public, transparent and rigorous review of the Judicial Council's recommendation to increase personal injury awards by almost 17%. This would greatly diminish the excellent programme of insurance reform delivered by the last government and undo much of the progress to date.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Maxwell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Paul O'Shea (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tony McCormack (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: A reduction in excise duty would be the fairest and most effective way to support all pubs and the VFI is proposing a rebate scheme on the excise paid on draught beer/cider.::There has been a 20% drop in licensed taxi drivers over the past 13 years which severely impacts pubs; late-night trade and customer safety. We are asking for support to urgently reform the taxi sector by reforming of entry tests, increasing funding for taxi grants and increase the number of taxis.

Methods: Meeting