Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I am speaking on behalf of my colleague, Senator Aidan Davitt, who is unable to attend due to a personal issue. It is my pleasure to speak today and to welcome the Second Stage debate of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022 in Seanad Éireann. Fianna Fáil very much welcomes and supports this Bill which will pave the way for strengthening Ireland's lobbying laws. It is a complex policy area, and I commend and congratulate those involved in bringing this reforming Bill to this important stage. This includes those involved in the reviews, the Private Members' Bills, the Government officials and those who participated in the pre-legislative scrutiny.

As we all know, lobbying plays a very important role in our democracy, allowing individuals and organisations to advance their interests and raise their concerns with elected officials and Government agencies.However, it has become increasingly evident that the current regulations governing lobbying do not adequately address the potential risks this practice poses to our democratic processes. The lobbying industry is growing in size and influence. Without proper checks and balances, lobbying can lead to undue influence on the part of wealthy or well-connected interests at the expense of the public good.

As the Minister of State indicated, to date, two statutory reviews have taken place under the 2015 Act, one in 2017 and the other in 2019. In September 2020, the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, commenced a further review to examine the operation of the Act in respect of the area of post-term employment as a lobbyist. This comprehensive review of the entire Act was concluded in May 2021.

This is a complex policy area, and a detailed review was necessary in order to properly assess the policy, legal and practical implications of the issues raised. In addition to consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, the review included: an assessment of the current operation of key provisions in the Act; consultation with, and consideration of the view of, the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO; an overview of lobbying regulations in other jurisdictions; and a consideration of options to address concerns raised and of the policy, legal and practical implications of different responses. The core consideration was to examine how the existing solid legislative foundation could be enhanced most effectively and efficiently, strengthening identified weaknesses. On foot of the review, a number of recommendations relating to legislative change were brought forward.

This Bill is a crucial step towards stronger and more transparent regulation of this industry. It seeks to address the consequences of unregulated lobbying, providing more transparency in how lobbyists operate, and to increase accountability for those who engage in such practices. The Bill will increase transparency by introducing the mandatory registration of third-party lobbyists and increasing the amount of information that must be disclosed about their activities. It will also require all lobbyists to disclose not just the topics they are interested in, but the precise objectives they seek to achieve through their lobbying activities. Moreover, the Bill will limit the potential for conflicts of interest by introducing a cooling-off period during which senior public officials who have left government cannot lobby their former colleagues. This provision will ensure that the roles and responsibilities of public office remain inviolate, thereby serving the public interest and safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process.

This Bill is a significant step towards achieving greater transparency and accountability in the lobbying industry. There is no doubt but that the proposed measures will strengthen our democracy by limiting the potential for undue influence, ensuring that the interests of the public are always at the forefront of policy-making. It is very important, now more than ever, to ensure that unregulated and unethical lobbying practices are a thing of the past. We should all embrace this Bill. Other Members of the House have clearly articulated that. It is a tool for better governance and manifests our commitment to the democratic principles we all hold dear. I commend the Bill to the House and am very glad to have spoken on it today.