Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII)

Lobbying Organisation Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII)

Date published 21 Dec, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Public Expenditure and Reform

Period 1 Sep, 2016 to 31 Dec, 2016

Specific Details Amendment of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015

Intended results That the legislation 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 government departments and state agencies to be under a statutory obligation to update the listings of Designated Public Officials (DPOs) on their websites at specific intervals (every four months at least). That the requirement for 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 legislation to place some onus on public officials to declare themselves and actively support compliance with the legislation. To ensure that the Standards Commission is properly resourced to deal with its new enforcement powers, as well as to continue its outreach and engagement work. The full PRII submission can be accessed here: https://www.prii.ie/assets/uploads/documents/PRII.Lobbying.Review.Submission.September.2016.pdf

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.

Email (6-10)

Copies of the PRII submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's public consultation were sent to the Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Labour Party spokespeople.

Social Media (2-5)

Meeting (2-5)

A delegation from the PRII met with Minister Donohoe to discuss our submission to the review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act. In addition, there was a brief meeting with Deputy Sherlock concerning the PRII's submission.

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.

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Stephen Lynam Special Adviser (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)