Political Lobbying
Identify your needs
Identify the real decision makers
Establish the correct target audience
Identify credible arguments
Engage in the lobbying process
About Des Crofton
Des Crofton has over 35 years experience in senior management, working in the financial, telecommunications, construction, NGO and medical sectors. He has directed Ireland’s largest NGO in the hunting and wildlife conservation sector from being virtually unknown to becoming a household name in Ireland and in Europe with a significant record of achievement at both national and European level.
Des has earned the respect of politicians of all political persuasions and a great many senior Government officials over the years. He has been instrumental in lobbying for, and guiding, a number of important legislative initiatives in Ireland and has contributed to many EU initiatives on such issues as wildlife conservation, environment, agriculture. He has written numerous papers and articles on a number of legislative initiatives in Ireland including wildlife conservation, hunting, civilian firearms ownership, animal welfare and agriculture to name but some. Des has delivered presentations at many meetings and conferences both in Ireland and other European countries at NGO, Governmental and EU institution levels. He is the author of “A Practical Guide to the Wildlife Acts 1976 – 2000” and numerous papers, and magazine articles and presentations to conferences in Ireland and internationally on his areas of interest and expertise. **
(** wildlife and nature conservation, firearms ownership and legislation, animal welfare legislation, access to the countryside, habitat conservation, wild bird project management, negotiating with state agencies and other bodies among others.)
During his career, Des has served on many important bodies, some by Ministerial appointment. Positions held include:
National Positions
- Early careers in Banking, telecommunications and construction.
- Director FACE Ireland
- National Director of the National Association of Regional Game Councils
(NARGC) for 26 years - Founding member and Chairman of the Sports Coalition (A national body
representing diverse countryside interests – fishing, hunting, nature and
wildlife conservation etc.) - Irish Head of Delegation to CIC International
- Chief Executive Officer of Ras Medical Limited T/A Auralia Private Hospital
International
- Board Member of FACE Europe (Federation des Associations de la Chasse de
l’EU), – an international organisation representing the interests of national
hunting and conservation associations in 35 countries - Served two 3 year terms as Vice President of FACE Europe
- Irish representative to the European Parliament’s Intergroup on
“Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside”
Ministerial Appointments in Ireland
- The Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Appeals Advisory Board
- The Heritage Council Standing Committee on Wildlife
- The Firearms Legislation Review Group in the Department of Justice &
Equality - The Firearms Consultative Panel at the Department of Justice & Equality
Projects & Achievements
Instrumental in
- Amendments to the Wildlife Act 1976
- Amendments to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000
- Amendments to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010
- Amendments to the Heritage Council Act 1995
- Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995
- Criminal Justice Act 2006
- Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009
- A significant number of Statutory Instruments dealing with Justice, Wildlife
and Environmental issues - Establishment of the Firearms Consultative Panel in the Department of
Justice & Equality - Ras Medical Limited, as Chief Executive Officer in overseeing a major
expansion of Auralia Private Hospital, resulting in improved patient services
and care and a doubling of turnover within a two and a half year timeframe
Key skill-sets
- Good communicator with excellent written skills
- Capable of communicating at the most senior levels
- Excellent team player
- Experienced facilitator
- Experienced negotiator with good judgemental skills
- Very experienced networker at national and international levels
- Excellent organisational skills
Published
- Author of “A Practical Guide to the Wildlife Acts 1976 – 2000”
- Co-author “A Critique of the Administration of the Firearms Acts 1925 – 2009
in the Republic of Ireland” - Numerous magazine articles
- Presentation of papers to conferences in Ireland and abroad
Others
- Formation of the Sports Coalition as a major lobby group for rural pursuits
- Established Government approved qualification for the Safe Handling of
Game Meat Harvested in the Wild under EU Regulation 853/2004 which
requires EU Member States to “…lay down specific hygiene rules for the
hygiene of foodstuffs”
Let us help you to:
Crisis Management
React quickly but cautiously
Decide on the best course of action – short, medium and long term
Implement and monitor
Event Management
Plan to succeed
Present effectively
Achieve your goals
Public Relations
Create a positive profile and goodwill between you and the individuals, companies, organisations and the public who are important to your business based on trust, credibility and professionalism
Strategise your approach
Handle the media
Structure Solutions
Identify the problem/s
Assess effectively
Identify and implement the solutions
Communications
Identify your communication needs
Decide the message/s you wish to deliver
Identify to whom and how it should it be sent i.e. the target audience
Handle the media
Contact Des
Phone: 00 353 87 463 4137
Email: des@descroftonconsulting.com
