What happens if I am no longer carrying out lobbying activities?

Once you are registered on the Register of Lobbying, you are obliged to submit a return of lobbying activities at the end of every return period.  This applies even if you have not carried out lobbying activities during a return period.  (See FAQ 29 above re “nil” returns.)

Section 11(4) of the Act, however, provides that a person who has ceased to carry on lobbying activities may notify the Standards Commission that this is the case. Lobbying.ie provides a facility where a person can record on their registration details that the person has ceased lobbying.  Section 12(2) of the Act provides that a person who has recorded that they have ceased lobbying will not be required to continue to submit returns of lobbying activities (including nil returns).

 A registered person, who is satisfied that they have ceased lobbying, may therefore, contact the Lobbying Regulation Unit and request to record on their registration details that they have ceased lobbying.

A registered person whose entry on the register has been marked as ceased and who subsequently wishes to recommence lobbying activities may notify the Commission that they wish to reactivate their registration. The Commission will then remove the note stating that they have ceased lobbying from the registration.