Ms Sherry Perreault:

As the Deputy said, the report produced by the Department in early 2020 in respect of the second legislative review of the Act pointed out that the Department was of the view that the commission could issue more guidance and education in certain areas. The commission then expressed its view that there were areas of the Act that should be amended in order to address some of the commission's recommendations. That remains the commission's position. The commission has done extensive outreach around the Regulation of Lobbying Act in particular, in addition to outreach around the other areas of its remit. We have a wide-ranging website which features significant amounts of published guidance and the answers to frequently asked questions. We conduct open house information sessions on a regular basis and do outreach to targeted sectoral communities, including through published information notices and lists of the top ten things people need to know. The commission has produced, and continues to produce, extensive and wide-ranging guidance and education material. We are, therefore, of the view that we are responding to any requirements for more information that have been identified.

To address some of the other issues, we remain of the view that it is only through legislative amendment that some of these shortcomings in the legislation can be addressed. The most prominent example is that of the enforcement of post-employment provisions. There is currently nothing to allow the commission to enforce those provisions. There are also other areas I have already touched on such as anti-avoidance measures and capturing informal business coalitions and so on. It is only through legislative reform that these matters can be addressed. We are hopeful that this reform will occur.

In respect of the Department's engagement, there has been another legislative review of the Act. This was launched late last year, only months after the previous review had concluded. I will not speak for the Government but, with this review, it has already gone on the record to indicate that it intends to carry out some reform with regard to the post-employment rules in particular. It is also looking at operational amendments to the Act. My understanding is that the review is concluded and that Government is bringing a general scheme to the Oireachtas at some point in the coming months for legislative amendment. I cannot speak to the particulars of that.