Politician(s) lobbied: Colm O'Reardon (Secretary General), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Continuation of funding
Methods: Letter
Politician(s) lobbied: Thomas Byrne (Minister of State), Department of Foreign Affairs
Intent: A lecture, requested by Minister Byrne's office, to students and staff, on the Government's priorities for the upcoming presidency of the EU.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
A lecture, requested by Minister Byrne's office, to students and staff, on the Government's priorities for the upcoming presidency of the EU.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Amii McKeever (Special Advisor), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Colm O'Reardon (Secretary General), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Establishing the partnership alongside the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, ahead of formal signing of Heads of Agreement and the Minister, James Lawless TD, obtaining Cabinet approval for bring forward legislation.
Methods: Virtual MeetingEvent / Reception
Details by Method
Virtual Meeting
A number of Teams meetings to discuss the partnership, the timeframe and to discuss operational and logistical details.
Event / Reception
Event at DKIT on 2 March 2026, attended by representatives of DKIT, QUB, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Minister.
Politician(s) lobbied: Sonja Hyland (Deputy Secretary General), Department of Foreign Affairs
Intent: Information exchange with postgraduate students in politics and international relations, focusing on diplomacy, policy, and current global challenges; informal discussion on current research, international collaboration, and strategic priorities.
Methods: Meeting
Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs
Intent: Conversation and briefing to the Minister, along with other stakeholders, on the work of Queen's University Belfast.
Methods: EmailLetter
Details by Method
Email
Subsequent emails on attendance at the dinner.
Letter
The request was initially accepted by the Minister but later declined. Sonja Hyland, DFAT Deputy Secretary General, attended in the Minister's place.
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach
Intent: Irish Government approval for DKIT becoming a college of Queen's University Belfast.
Methods: LetterEmail
Details by Method
Letter
Letters of information in relation to the request for approval along with subsequent back and forth correspondence.
Email
Subsequent back and forth correspondence between the team in Queen's University Belfast and officials in the Taoiseach's office.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Approval firstly by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland and latterly, the Irish Government.
Methods: LetterEmail
Details by Method
Letter
Letters of information in relation to the proposal and the request for approval followed by subsequent back and forth correspondence.
Email
Subsequent back and forth correspondence between the team in Queen's University Belfast and officials in the Minister's department.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Increasing collaboration in higher education across the Island of Ireland.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
Letter to deliver a video address was followed by a follow-up email with the Minister's PO with officials then actioning the request.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Lawless (Minister), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Intent: Developing relationships between academia, industry and government.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
The Minister delivered a keynote speech to around 60 people in the RIA. A panel discussion followed afterwards however the Minister did not stay for this.
Politician(s) lobbied: Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Showcasing the role of Queen's in delivery of ROI Government policy
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
Event held in AV Room in Leinster House on 19 June 2025.
