Law Society of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Law Society of Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Environment

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details Proposals to the Expert Commission on Water Charges

Intended results To underline the inequity and inefficiencies that arise by placing a charge on the sale of property in the case of unpaid water charges

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland

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.

Submission (1)

The Law Society would like to clarify that it has no position on the imposition of charges for the use of water services - that is a matter of Government policy and legislation. However the Society is anxious to bring to the attention of the Commission certain difficulties for both the public and practitioners, in the charging and payment model introduced by the relevant legislation. Since 2009, the NPPR, Household Charge and LPT have proven extremely problematic to administer, and have contributed disproportionately to delays in an already over-complex conveyancing system, and thus increased costs. The collection of arrears through the conveyancing process remains a cause of significant delays and increased costs for citizens. The Society is keen to ensure that the conveyancing process remains as speedy and efficient as possible. The addition of further charges on the sale of the property frustrates the parties involved and the orderly process.

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.

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)