Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will regulate the activities of lobbyists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19053/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Arising from previous research completed by the Institute of Public Administration on behalf of the Department in 2004, my Department commissioned further research by a Trinity College/Dublin City University joint team to establish a clear profile of formal systems for regulating lobbyists in public life in certain jurisdictions, thereby facilitating an assessment of their relevance to public life in Ireland. This research report, entitled "Examining and Assessing the Regulation of Lobbyists in Canada, the USA, the EU institutions, and Germany" has been published electronically on my Department's website. Copies of the report have also been placed in the Oireachtas Library.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to consider legislation to regulate lobbyists, and this will be taken forward having regard to the conclusions of the Trinity College / Dublin City University report and emerging developments at international level.