Written answers

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Department of Finance

Ministerial Meetings

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of meetings requested by private external lobby groups and the number of meetings held, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43599/15]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that in view of my remit as Minister for Finance, I receive a large volume of requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including private individuals, companies, and local and voluntary groups. My Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings.

Since the beginning of the year I have attended approximately 600 meetings, inclusive of all diary engagements.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides for the establishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible register of lobbying. The purpose of the register is to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with Designated Public Officials. Under the Act, lobbyists who have registered with the Standards Commission must, by 21 January 2016, have provided the Standards Commission on lobbying activities engaged in during the period 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2015. The register can be accessed at

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