Relevant Matter
Legislation
Public Policy Area
Public Expenditure and Reform
Period
1 Jan, 2017 to 30 Apr, 2017
Specific Details
Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015
Intended results
That the Regulation of Lobbying Act be amended so that it clearly and unambiguously applies to lobbying activity that occurs overseas. We have proposed that the provisions in the UK's Lobbying Act be replicated here, which states that: “It does not matter whether the person to whom the communication is made, or the person making it, or both, are outside the United Kingdom when the communication is made.”
That the extension of Designated Public Officials (DPOs) to grades below Assistant Secretary in the Civil Service be delayed until the 2019 Review of the Act.
That the requirement to report lobbying activities relating to Irish MEPs be removed from the legislation, given that there is already a European Transparency Register. Also, Ireland is the only member state that requires lobbying of MEPs to be reported on a national register.
Given that the legislation is entirely one-sided in that it places all the obligations on the lobbyists, there is a need for the Act to be amended to place some onus on public officials to declare themselves and actively support compliance with the legislation.
That government departments and state agencies be placed under a statutory obligation to update the listings of Designated Public Officials (DPOs) on their websites at specific intervals (every four months at least).
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
John Carroll, CEO
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
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
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.
Neale Richmond
Senator (Seanad)
Joan Burton
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Seán Sherlock
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paschal Donohoe
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)
Leo Varadkar
Minister (Department of Social Protection)