Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2015
239. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings she has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings she has held with these groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26694/15]
View answerA review of correspondence received by my Private Office indicates that, since my appointment as Minister last year, I have received 150 requests for meetings with a variety of individuals and groups, on foot of which I attended such 43 meetings. This figure includes meetings with representatives of those bodies under the aegis of my Department and with representatives of other organisations.
The Deputy will be aware that the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 has recently been enacted by the Oireachtas and will commence on 1 September 2015. The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Standards Commission) will establish and maintain an online register of lobbying and oversee compliance with the legislative provisions. The purpose of the register will be to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials. Persons lobbying will have to register with the Standards Commission and will be required to submit returns on their lobbying activities.
