Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of senior staff members of his Department or of State bodies under the aegis of his Department who are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities; if it is intended to issue directions as to the appropriateness of such involvement in these bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9067/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Staff of the Department and State bodies under the aegis of the Department must comply with the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and 2001. Staff at Principal Officer level and above, other designated persons in the Department as well as staff of State Bodies must provide, on an annual basis, a disclosure of interests return for themselves, their spouse, civil partner, child or child of a spouse that could materially influence the officer in relation to their performance in their official duties. This includes details of any directorships or remunerated positions held as a political or public affairs lobbyist, consultant, or adviser. The returns relating to 2022 were submitted on or before 31 January 2023.

The Ethics return does not expressly mandate staff members to declare if a body they are a board member of is registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or is a body which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities and therefore it is not possible to provide a number as requested by the Deputy.

The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) publishes guidelines on compliance with the Provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 for Public Servants. Officers are restricted in performing official duties where a material interest is involved.

Regarding the State bodies under my remit, the compliance with codes of practice and standards would be an operational matter for the bodies themselves.

In terms of awareness raising all new entrants to my Department at senior level are provided with a copy of the SIPO code and sign a declaration to say they have read and fully understood the requirements. The Department also notify staff resigning or retiring of their obligations if they are taking up an appointment in an outside body that may cause conflict within 12 months of departure.

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 is designed to provide information to the public about who is lobbying whom about what. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) has established an online register of lobbying at www.lobbying.ie. Section 6(4) of the Act requires each public body to publish a list of designated public officials of the body. The purpose of the list is twofold:

1.To allow members of the public to identify those persons who are designated public officials; and

2.As a resource for lobbyists filing a return to the SIPO Register who may need to source a designated public official’s details.

The list of designated public officials is on my Departments website: enterprise.gov.ie/ga/ce-muid-fein/eolas-corparaideach/designated-public-officials-lobbying-act-2015/d