Public Consultation on a Code of Conduct for persons carrying on lobbying activities

Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (the Act):

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 commenced on 1September 2015. The Act introduced a requirement for those who lobby designated public officials to register and report on their lobbying activities every four months.  The Act and related statutory instruments can be viewed at the Register of Lobbying website https://www.lobbying.ie/about-us/legislation/.

Section 16(1) of the Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Commission) may produce a Code of Conduct for persons carrying on lobbying activities “with a view to promoting high professional standards and good practices”.  Section 16(2) of the Act provides that, before producing a Code of Conduct, the Commission shall consult with such persons carrying on lobbying activities, such bodies representing them and such other persons as the Commission considers appropriate.

Consultation paper and draft Code of Conduct

The Commission would welcome comments and views on the development of a code of conduct for persons carrying on lobbying activities.  To assist the process a consultation paper and a draft Code of Conduct have been prepared.  The draft Code is for consideration only.  It does not reflect what may or may not be included in the final published Code of Conduct.  The Consultation Paper and the draft Code of Conduct are available on www.lobbying.ie

Next Steps:

Submissions should be sent to info@lobbying.ie using the subject line “Code of Conduct for persons carrying on lobbying activities”.  A template submission response document is provided as an Appendix to the consultation paper.

Please note that the closing date for submissions is Friday 27 July 2018. 

Submissions may also be posted to:

Mr Aidan Moore

Standards in Public Office Commission

18 Lower Leeson Street

Dublin 2

Please remember to include in your submission specific examples from your own experience which support your position where you are making points regarding the Code of Conduct.

It should be noted that submissions received and reports of any meetings undertaken by the Commission with any external parties in response to this consultation process will be published on www.lobbying.ie and will be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

For further information please contact the Standards in Public Office Commission (Regulation of Lobbying Unit) at info@lobbying.ie or on 01-6395722.