The 2011 Programme for Government contained a commitment to introduce a statutory register of lobbying, and rules concerning the practice of lobbying. The Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014 was published on 20 June 2014 and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 was signed into law by the President Michael D. Higgins on 11 March 2015. The report is available on the Commission’s website.
The primary purpose of the legislation is to provide for a web-based Register of Lobbying to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions.
The legislation also provides restrictions and conditions on the taking up of certain employments by certain designated officials for a specified period of time where a possible conflict of interest arises.
The legislation provides that the Standards Commission will be the Regulator of Lobbying. The Standards Commission will establish and oversee an online Register of Lobbying. The Standards Commission will also monitor compliance with the legislation, provide guidance and assistance and where necessary investigate and pursue breaches of legal requirements in due course. The Standards Commission will also prepare a Code of Conduct for Lobbying.
The focus of the Standards Commission in the initial period of the operation of the legislation will be on guidance and information. It is intended that those provisions of the legislation which allow the Standards Commission to investigate non-compliance and administer sanctions will not be commenced until a review of the implementation of the legislation has been carried out. This review will take place one year after the commencement of the legislation, i.e. 1 September 2015.
During 2014 the Standards Commission worked closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the development of the legislation.
The Standards Commission has a role under the legislation to issue guidance and information to promote an understanding of the legislation and has recently published its guidelines for compliance with Regulation of Lobbying and other information material on www.lobbying.ie. The Standards Commission will publish further information leaflets and advice bulletins in due course.
An Advisory Group composed of relevant experts and stakeholders has been established to assist the Standards Commission in addressing key implementation issues arising from the establishment of a Register of Lobbying which will be in a position to provide information and guidance that will assist in the smooth implementation of the legislation.
The Standards Commission has also recruited a Head of Lobbying Regulation, Ms Sherry Perreault, to support its work of regulating lobbying in Ireland.
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