Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
40. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied with the application of the lobbying register; the action he will take in regard to non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/16]
View answerThe first two reporting deadlines for those who have lobbied designated public officials have now passed. Those who undertook any lobbying since 1 September 2015 were required to register and submit returns of their lobbying activity on the online register. I am very pleased with the level of compliance achieved in these initial return periods. There are currently more than 1,300 organisations and individuals who have registered and almost 4,500 returns have been submitted to the register. The information available on the register provides the public with unprecedented insight into the role that lobbying plays in contributing to policy and funding discussions and decisions. Communications between the political systems, public service and all sectors of society will be supported and strengthened by this register, leading to better informed policy and decision making. The overall level of compliance is a very positive indicator that there is an acceptance of the need for openness and transparency in lobbying. It is clear that the work undertaken by my Department and the Standards in Public Office Commission in building awareness and understanding of the Regulation of Lobbying Act has been effective and I am confident that this momentum will be maintained as this work continues.
Currently, Part 4 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, which relates to enforcement provisions, has not been commenced. This was a deliberate decision made to allay any concerns that stakeholders may have had about inadvertent non-compliance with the provisions of the Act and to allow those lobbying a period of time to become familiar with their legal obligations and the registration system. Given the success of the system, and the high levels of compliance, it would be my intention to commence these provisions early next year.
There is an obligation to review the Act this year and I want to give an idea of some of the inconsistencies within the Act. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, had meetings with the banks last year on variable rate mortgages. Two of the banks with which he met declared them as part of their lobbying returns but two others did not. Even at that level, there seems to be confusion over the obligations of the Act. It may also be that because no enforcement is in place, people are not afraid of it. How early in 2017 will the Minister enact the enforcement procedures and what month in this year will the review of the Act get under way?
My objective is to commence the review of the Act in September this year and to finalise it by February 2017. The reason we built in a review period was to deal with the kind of issues to which the Deputy referred.
