Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
83. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of and position regarding the proposed timeline for enactment of the regulation of lobbying (amendment) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11275/22]
View answerOn 15 February, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022. The General Scheme has been published and referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach for pre-legislative scrutiny.
I have instructed my officials to give whatever support the Committee requires in terms of briefing or clarification in respect of any of the heads of the Bill and have asked that this issue be prioritised, if at all possible, given the key role that regulation of lobbying legislation plays in supporting transparency and citizen participation.
In tandem with pre-legislative scrutiny, my officials will work closely with the Office of the Attorney General on the priority drafting of the Bill.
I would anticipate that the Bill will be drafted and published in the coming months and that it will be enacted as soon as possible thereafter.
