Written answers

Thursday, 26 January 2017

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Regulation of Lobbying

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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31. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has satisfied himself with the legislative measures undertaken or in motion by his Department to improve standards and transparency in public office, for example, the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the continuing concerns of advocacy groups such as TASC regarding ethics codes, the arguably permissive approach to gifts and ongoing difficulties in ensuring adherence to the transparency code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3422/17]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government Reform programme was undertaken to facilitate more open, transparent, responsible and responsive public governance. A very substantial programme of legislative reforms has been delivered including the Ombudsman (amendment) Act 2012, the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Freedom of Information Act 2014, the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and three Statute Law Revision Acts. In addition, the Public Sector Standards Bill was published and drafting of the Data Sharing and Governance Bill is underway. I am satisfied with the legislative measures undertaken to date and currently underway.

In relation to  the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, while responsibility for implementation rests with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC), work undertaken by my Department and the SIPOC in building awareness and understanding of the Act has been effective and I am confident that this momentum will be maintained. The first four reporting deadlines for those who have lobbied designated public officials have now passed and I am very pleased with the level of compliance achieved. There are currently more than 1,500 organisations and individuals who have registered, and almost 11,000 returns have been submitted to the Register.  

Regarding the Transparency Code, the Act provides for an exemption from registration requirements for communications between members of certain types of working groups, task forces, committees, etc. where the group in question complies with this Code. All Departments have been made aware of the Code by both my Department and SIPOC. The first review of the operation of the Act is underway and  any issues raised regarding the Code will be fully considered as part of this review.

In relation to the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015, I expect that it will recommence at Committee Stage in the Dáil towards the end of February with a view to enactment before the summer.

I can confirm also that officials from my Department have recently had a very productive meeting with a representative from TASC regarding this Bill, and subsequent to this meeting I received a letter on the subject from TASC. I have asked my officials to consider the matters raised in this letter with a view to making recommendations to me on legislative amendments, if any, that may be required.

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