Minister Donohoe launches public consultation process for first review of Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015

31st August, 2016

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., today (Wednesday) launched the public consultation process for the first review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. The closing date for receipt of submissions is Friday 30 September 2016.

Minister Donohoe said: ‘I am delighted to be taking this innovative step to commence a public consultation process on the operation of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 as we approach the first anniversary of the commencement of the Act.  Given the success of the system, and the high levels of compliance, it is clear that the work undertaken by both my Department and the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC) in building awareness and understanding of the Regulation of Lobbying Act has been effective, and I am confident that this momentum will be maintained as this work continues’.

A paper setting out the background to and details about this review can be found on the Department’s website at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/regulation-of-lobbying/

Submissions should be forwarded to lobbying@per.gov.ie as soon as possible, but no later than Friday 30 September 2016.

The Register, which may be viewed at www.lobbying.ie, is overseen by the SIPOC. The website, which includes the online register, also has a suite of information tools designed to help lobbyists, designated public officials and the public to fully understand the Act and its obligations.

Ends

Notes for Editors

The purpose of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 is to deliver appropriate transparency on ‘who is contacting whom about what’ and this was achieved by the establishment of a web-based register of lobbying activity.

Under Section 2 of the Act the first review of the operation of the Act should commence by 1 September 2016 and be finalised by end February 2017.  The Act requires that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must undertake a consultation process to include SIPOC, Oireachtas Committees, persons carrying on lobbying and bodies representing them and any other persons as appropriate.  The Report of the Review should cover the findings, conclusions drawn from these findings and any recommendations for amendments to the legislation consequent on these findings.   Subsequent reviews will be required every 3 years.

http://www.per.gov.ie/en/regulation-of-lobbying/