Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give an update on the legislation committed to reform the code of laws replacing both the Ministers and Secretaries Act and the Public Service Management Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1938/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Work is ongoing in my Department in this area. I remain committed to bringing forward the reform required in the context of commitments on accountability arrangements, as set out in the Programme for Government. Legislative change to clarify accountability arrangements is a key initiative of the Government's Public Service Reform Plan that was published in November 2011.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is any progress on the commitment in the programme for Government on developing a statutory register of lobbyists and rules regarding the practice of lobbying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2040/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists, and rules concerning the practice of lobbying. In addition the Public Service Reform Plan contains a commitment to prepare legislation to meet this commitment. The Government Reform Unit of my Department is currently reviewing the approaches in place in the EU and internationally to the regulation of lobbyists. This process, which will identify best practice internationally, will help to inform and guide the design of proposals for the regulatory regime in Ireland.

In parallel with this work the Department is currently seeking submissions from interested parties on a number of key issues relating to options for the organisation and implementation of a regulatory system for lobbying in Ireland. The Department recently placed a notice in newspapers directing interested parties to explanatory documents on the Department's website with a view to receiving submissions by 29 February, 2012. A copy of this advertisement and the explanatory documents may be found at: http://per.gov.ie/regulation-of-lobbyists/. The Deputy may wish to consider whether his party will make a submission to the consultation process in light of the importance of this proposal to all public representatives and Members of the Houses.