Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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359. To ask the Minister for Health 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. [43601/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Health I received representations, including requests for meetings, from a range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups, private individuals, companies and representative associations. The information requested by the Deputy can be seen in the following table. I have received 58 requests for meetings and had 22 meetings with the bodies below.

The Deputy will be aware that the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 was commenced on 1 September 2015 and both Minister Kathleen Lynch and I are Designated Public Officials under the Act. The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Standards Commission) establish and maintain an on-line 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.

The information relating to Minister Lynch is being compiled and I will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible with this.