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Useful information

Since September 2015, the Regulation of Lobbying Act also applies to law firms and, in some instances, to their clients. For more information including deadlines for registration of lobbying activities, click on the links below:

• Lobbying regulation/register activities
• EU Transparency Register
• Useful public affairs links
• Feedback

Lobbying regulation

The Act

Obligations under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 came into effect on 1 September 2015 and oblige those undertaking ‘lobbying activities’, where applicable, to publicly register such instances.

The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) will be the Regulator of Lobbying.

• View the Regulation of Lobbying Act
• View the SIPO Lobbying Code of Conduct

Register lobbying activities

Lobbying activities must be registered on lobbying.ie within 21 days after the end of each of the following periods of activity:

• 1 January - 30 April: register by end of 21 May
• 1 May - 31 August: register by end of 21 September
• 1 September - 31 December: register by end of 21 January

Useful lobbying.ie guides

The following guides offer information for people carrying out lobbying activities and designated public officials, along with frequently asked questions.

• Guidelines for people carrying on lobbying activities
• Frequently Asked Questions

Appeals (including delayed publication)

• Section 23 of the Act provides for the appeal of SIPO decision relating to accuracy of the register, delayed publication and post-term employment of former designated public officials.
• Appeals must be made within 14 days of the SIPO decision and the outcome may be appealed further to the High Court.
• The Appeals Regulations are set out in SI 366/2015.

Penalties and Enforcement (Commenced 1 January 2017)

These penalties apply to the reporting period 1 September 2016 to 31 December 2016, and all periods thereafter. 

Part 4 (sections 18 - 21) of the Act relates to enforcement, contraventions and penalties:

• Section 20 provides a person (and/or their employer) in contravention of the Act is liable, on summary conviction, to a Class C fine (up to €2,500), or on indictment, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years.
• Section 21 provides that where a fixed payment is made to SIPO, prosecution in respect of the offence will not be initiated.

Public Service Bodies

• Section 7 of the Act provides a definition of Public Service Bodies
• The Schedule to the Act sets out bodies that are not public service bodies for the purposes of Section 7.
• A list of public of public service bodies has been compiled by SIPO. Check for the Lobbying website regularly for updates as the list may be added to over time.

Designated Public Officials (DPOs)

In order to assist with compliance with the Act, public bodies and agencies have been requested to publish the names, titles and responsibilities of their designated public officials, including Ministerial advisors. Office holders may change.

• Section 6 sets out the classes of public and civil servants that are regarded as Designated Public Officials.
• SI 367/2015 sets out additional classes of Designated Public Officials and the bodies they are employed by (see below for further details).

DPOs by department

Direct links to the schedule of DPOs by Department are set out below:

• Office of the Attorney General
• Department of Justice and Agencies  (including AG, CSSO, DPP, Legal Aid Board)   
• Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and Agencies
• Department of Finance
• Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
• Department of Health
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
• Revenue Commissioners

SIPO have provided a full list of government agencies and departments with DPOs working within them. This may be added to over time and you are advised to consult it regularly.

Who does what?

A valuable resource in identifying senior public officials across 24 departments and agencies, including contact details, grade, division and responsibilities, is the Who Does What website.  

You may also find the outlines of structures for certain Government Departments below useful: 

• Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
• Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Elected public officials and local authorities

Section 6(a) - (d) provides that publicly elected officials are deemed DPOs. The following resources may be of assistance:

• A directory of TDs in the 32nd Dáil (10 March 2016).
• Members of the 25th Seanad (effective from May 2016).
• Members of the European Parliament for the constituency of Ireland - view current Irish elected MEPs for the term 2014 – 2019.
• Members of local authorities (Councillors) and, pursuant to SI 367/2015, Chief Executives, Directors of Services and Heads of Finance are all deemed DPOs.  For Dublin City Council, Assistant CEO and Director of Human Resources are also DPOs. View the list and contact details for all local authorities.

EU Transparency Register

Entities whose contact with EU Institutions, including MEPS, is designed to influence - directly or indirectly - policymaking, policy implementation and decision-making in the EU institutions, should be aware of the voluntary EU Transparency Register. Entities are urged to register their organisations rather than their individual activities and are bound to a Code of Conduct.

Useful public affairs links  

For additional external resources, see:

• Public Affairs Links
• Brexit Links

Feedback

What information or resources would you like to be included in this section for the benefit of you and your colleagues? Please send any queries and/or suggestions to the Society's Public Affairs Manager, Cormac Ó Culáin.

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