Guidance for DPOs

Introduction

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (no 5 of 2015) (the Act) was signed into law in March 2015. Parts 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the Act commenced on 1 September 2015.  Part 4 of the Act (Enforcement provisions) commenced on 1 January 2017

The Regulation of Lobbying and Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) Act 2023 was passed into law in 22 June 2023. The enforcement provisions come into effect on 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2024.

These guidelines have been drafted to ensure that public bodies and Designated Public Officials (DPOs) understand how the system works, how they fit in to it and how they can assist in supporting the effective implementation of the legislation.  DPOs are not subject to rules regarding the registration and reporting of lobbying. Their interactions when lobbied must, however, be reported by the lobbyists in accordance with the Act.  Section 4(b) of these guidelines sets out who the DPOs are.

The Regulation of Lobbying and Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) Act 2023 provides that each public service body shall inform, in writing, every DPO in the body of their obligations under Section 22 of the Act, when taking up and when leaving the body (section 22(6)).The Public Service body must also notify the Commission as soon as they aware that a relevant DPO is leaving the body (section 22(7)).