Jonathan O'Brien
Question:9Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the progress made regarding the Regulation of Lobbying Bill. [28249/12]
View answerWednesday, 13 June 2012
Questions (10)
Oral answers (5 contributions)
As the Deputy will be aware the programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists and rules governing the conduct of lobbying. In addition, the public service reform programme, launched in November 2011, contains a commitment to prepare legislation to meet these objectives through the publication of legislation early in 2013. My Department is currently engaged in developing proposals for consideration by me and, in due course, the Government on implementation of these commitments.
A review of international approaches to the regulation of lobbyists was commenced late last year. In December 2011, submissions were invited from interested parties on key issues relating to options for the design, structure and implementation of an effective regulatory system for lobbying in Ireland. The consultation process was based on the agreed OECD Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying which was the subject of a recommendation by the OECD Council in February 2010. The response to the consultation process was positive, with approximately 60 organisations and individuals submitting views to my Department.
A policy paper is being finalised on the basis of further research and analysis, in particular on the key issues highlighted in the submissions received as well as from subsequent meetings with some contributors to the consultation process undertaken. I intend to publish this paper shortly to communicate the main elements of the proposed lobbying legislation. Following publication of the paper, a public seminar will be held in July to provide a further opportunity for discussion on the proposals, in particular on the key implementation issues raised during the consultation process.
Preliminary work has commenced on the preparation of an outline scheme of a lobbying Bill for approval by the Government in due course based on the lobbying regulations in other jurisdictions as well as several Private Members' Bills published on this topic over the years.
I thank the Minister. Perhaps I did not catch it but did the Minister give an indicative date for the publication of the Bill?
I intend to have a paper published very shortly but the Bill itself will be published early next year.
The reason I raise this is because while I am aware of the process undertaken with regard to the submissions, I am also aware that in March the Minister told us he would publish a paper within weeks. This month his party leader, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, stated the heads of the Bill were expected by the end of the summer. In sum, my concern is that there is some foot dragging on this. I do not think I need to emphasise to the Minister how important this legislation is. It needs to be robust and fit for purpose but it also needs to be published. We need a firm timetable.
I could not agree more with the Deputy. She is aware I published a Private Members' Bill on this subject but it is a complicated issue. Lobbying is legitimate and every citizen and representative group should be able to lobby, whether it is a group representing the unemployed, farmers, single parents or anybody else. The issue is that it must be done in a regulated way that is transparent and in accordance with best practice and we also need to avoid undue influence in the hands of some. This is an important part of the body of legislation on transparency the Government will enact. I would welcome the Deputy to the forum we will hold in July to hear ideas. I will produce papers and the submissions received to date and we will see how we can take it forward. We are already working on the draft heads of the Bill so the Tánaiste is correct in this regard. It may be preferable to bring the heads of Bill to the committee rather than the completed Bill. I have an open mind on this and I will be interested to hear the Deputy's views on it.