New Lobbying Registration and Disclosure Requirements in Ireland

September 2015

By Michael E. Toner and Karen E. Trainer

On September 1, 2015, Ireland’s Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (Act) became effective. The Act requires lobbyists to register and file reports three times a year. Information provided on registrations and reports will be made publicly available through a new website. The Act also created a lobbying code of conduct and revolving door restrictions for some officials leaving the government.

Registration is required for certain professional lobbyists, lobbyist employers, representative and advocacy bodies, and persons communicating about zoning if communications are with a “designated public official” regarding a “relevant matter.” Designated public officials include ministers, members of the National Parliament and European Parliament, certain civil servants, and certain local officials. Relevant matters include those relating to the initiation or development of a public program, the preparation or amendment of a law, and the award of any grant or contract.

Reports are due on May, September, and January 21. Each report must include information on the matters lobbied, individuals who carried out lobbying, and officials lobbied.

A database of registrations that have been filed since the September 1 effective date of the Act is available at https://www.lobbying.ie/.