Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 - Designated Public Officials

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 commenced on 1 September 2015.

The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission will establish and maintain an online Register of lobbying activity, making information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions. Lobbyists must report on their interactions with the Designated Public Officials.

Section 6(4) of the Act requires each public body to publish a list of Designated Public Officials of that body. The list is a resource for lobbyists filing a return to the Register who may need to source a designated public official's details. The list of Designated Public Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is set out in the list below:

Martina Feeney, Director of Security, Coordination & Compliance Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Nominated Official to liaise with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).

Section 5(7) of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shall prepare and publish a code, to be known as the "Transparency Code", which sets out how certain relevant public bodies, such as ministerial advisory groups, certain working groups etc. may conduct their activities in a transparent way.

By adhering to the Transparency Code, communications within these bodies would meet the exemption from the requirement to register and report on lobbying activities.

Relevant groups exempted under the Transparency Code are;

Brexit Stakeholder Forum

Export Trade Council (no longer active)

Government Trade Forum (ireland.ie/tradeforum)

The Standards Commission has a role under the legislation to issue guidance and information and to promote an understanding of the legislation. The Standards Commission, in co-operation with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, has published guidance on the Regulation of Lobbying Act for Designated Public Officials.

Further information regarding the legislation and further guidance on the Act is available on the Regulation of Lobbying website at lobbying.ie. Further information may also be obtained by contacting the Standards Commission at info@lobbying.ie or at 01-6395722.