In Ireland, lobbying activity is regulated by the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, as amended (among others) by the Regulation of Lobbying and Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) Act 2023, n. 15 del 2023.
According to the law, a person shall not carry on lobbying activities unless the person is a person registered in the Register of Lobbying, which is maintained by the Standards in Public Office Commission.
In order to be included in the register, personal identification details shall be supplied; moreover, registered persons shall regularly make to the Commission returns, stating the relevant information relating to the client, the designated public officials to whom the communications concerned were made, the subject matter of those communications and the results they were intended to secure, the type and extent of the lobbying activities carried on, etc. (artt. 11, 12). Persons carrying on lobbying activities shall respect a Code of Conduct produced by the Commission, which has also the power to carry out investigations and may serve fixed payment notices in case of contraventions (art. 19, 21). Among the several provisions of the law, restrictions on post-term employment as lobbyist during a period of one year (cooling off period) is provided by virtue of art. 22.
