Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015
652. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of meetings requested by private external lobby groups and the number of meetings held, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43593/15]
View answerThe Regulation of Lobbying Act was commenced in September 2015. In furtherance of the requirements of the Act and associated regulations, my Department's website (www.ahg.gov.ie) carries details of my Department's Designated Public Officials. This facilitates registered lobbyists in fulfilling their statutory obligation to report communications made with the relevant persons which fall with the scope of the Act. Lobbyists have been required to record communications with Designated Public Officials in relation to matters covered by the Act since 1 September 2015. Lobbyists are required to make a return in relation to such communications which took place between the aforementioned date and 31 December 2015 to the Standards in Public Office Commission by 16 January 2016.
The statutory mechanisms governing lobbying set out clearly the relevant people and bodies covered by the legislation as well as the nature of the communications which constitute lobbying. As these statutory mechanisms are now operational, I do not propose to pre-empt the deadlines established by the legislation. In the meantime, the Deputy may wish to note that my diary of appointments is published periodically on my Department's website.
