Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the number of requests for meetings he has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings he has held with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26696/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies.

Since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 11 July 2014 I have attended some 870 meetings with a range of individuals and groups, including meetings with representatives of those bodies under the aegis of my Department, and other public representatives. This does not include informal unscheduled meetings that might arise from time to time. In the time available, it has not been possible to break this figure down between the different categories of meetings listed in the Question.

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 was enacted by the Oireachtas earlier this year and will commence on 1 September 2015. The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Standards Commission) will establish and maintain an online register of lobbying and oversee compliance with the legislative provisions. The purpose of the register will be to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials. Persons lobbying will have to register with the Standards Commission and will be required to submit returns on their lobbying activities.