Standards Commission welcomes introduction of enforcement provisions under Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015
Authority to investigate and prosecute contraventions of Act set to commence 1 January 2017
Monday 11 July 2016: The Standards in Public Office Commission today welcomed the announcement of the scheduled commencement of the enforcement provisions of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced earlier today that Part 4 of the Act will commence on 1 January 2017. The provisions contained in Part 4 give the Standards Commission the authority to investigate and prosecute contraventions of the Act and to levy fixed payment notices for late filing of lobbying returns.
An incremental approach has been taken to the commencement of the Act, with most of the Act’s provisions in effect from last September. These include the requirement for those who lobby designated public officials to register and report on their lobbying activities every four months.
Head of Lobbying Regulation Sherry Perreault said “The focus in the first year of the Act’s operation has been on promoting knowledge and understanding of the Act to encourage compliance, with very positive early results. To date, more than 1,300 persons and organisations have registered and more than 4,500 returns have been published on the register.”
Ms. Perreault said, “The introduction of the Act’s enforcement provisions will provide the Commission with additional tools to support the Act’s effective implementation.”
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For further information please contact:
Press Officer
Standards in Public Office Commission
6 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 639 5722
E-mail: info@lobbying.ie
Website: www.lobbying.ie
Twitter: @LobbyingIE
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Background:
On 1 September 2015, the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 commenced, and with it, the requirement for those who lobby designated public officials to register and report on their lobbying activities every four months.
Information submitted to the Register is available for public inspection at www.lobbying.ie. The website, which includes the online register, also has a suite of information tools designed to help lobbyists, designated public officials and the public to fully understand the Act and its obligations.
The Register is overseen by the Standards in Public Office Commission. In May 2015, Sherry Perreault was appointed by the Standards Commission to serve as the first Head of Lobbying Regulation.
The Standards Commission issued its first annual report under the Regulation of Lobbying Act on 28 June 2016. The report is available online at www.lobbying.ie.