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Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 - Designated Public Officials

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 commenced on 1 September 2015.

The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission will establish and maintain an online Register of lobbying activity, making information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions. Lobbyists must report on their interactions with the Designated Public Officials.

Section 6(4) of the Act requires each public body to publish a list of Designated Public Officials of that body. The list is a resource for lobbyists filing a return to the Register who may need to source a designated public official's details. The list of Designated Public Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs is set out in the list below:

The list of Designated Public Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs is set out in the list below:

  • Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence.
  • Mr. Seán Fleming, T.D. Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora.
  • Mr. Peter Burke, T.D. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs and at the Department of Defence.
  • Ms. Gráinne Weld, Special Advisor to An Tánaiste the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence.
  • Mr. Eoin Delaney, Special Advisor to the Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora.
  • Ms. Laura Mannion, Special Advisor to the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence.
  • Mr. Joseph Hackett, Secretary General.
  • Mr. John Conlan, Deputy Secretary General (Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer).
  • Ms. Sonja Hyland, Deputy Secretary General (Global Issues).
  • Mr. Niall Burgess, Ambassador of Ireland to France.
  • Ms. Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States of America.
  • Mr. Damien Cole, Ambassador of Ireland to Japan.
  • Ms. Maeve Collins, Director General, European Union Division.
  • Mr. John Concannon, Director General, Global Ireland.
  • Ms. Barbara Cullinane, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union.
  • Mr. Ruairí de Búrca, Director General, Ireland UK & Americas Division.
  • Ms. Anne Derwin, Ambassador of Ireland to the People's Republic of China.
  • Mr. Martin Fraser, Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain.
  • Mr. Michael Gaffey, Development Cooperation and Africa Division.
  • Mr. Austin Gormley, Ambassador of Ireland to The Republic of South Africa.
  • Mr. Tom Hanney, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union.
  • Ms. Barbara Jones, Ambassador of Ireland to The Kingdom Of Sweden.
  • Mr. Paul Kavanagh, Chief of Protocol.
  • Mr. Gerard Keown, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OECD and UNESCO and Director General, Economic Division.
  • Ms. Síle Maguire, Director General, Human Resources Division and Corporate Services Division.
  • Ms. Sarah McGrath, Ambassador of Ireland to The Republic Of Singapore.
  • Mr. Eamonn McKee, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada.
  • Ms. Alison Milton, Ambassador of Ireland to the United Arab Emirates.   
  • Mr. Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, New York.
  • Mr. Nicholas O'Brien, Ambassador of Ireland to the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • Ms. Patricia O'Brien, Ambassador of Ireland to The Italian Republic.
  • Mr. Colm Ó Floinn, former Assistant Secretary General.
  • Mr. Eoin O'Leary, Ambassador of Ireland to Austria and Permanent Mission of Ireland to the International Organisations in Vienna.
  • Mrs. Fiona Penollar, Director General, Citizen Services Division.
  • Mr. Brendan Rogers, Ambassador of Ireland to The Kingdom Of The Netherlands.
  • Mr. Laurence Simms, Joint Secretary, Belfast Secretariat.
  • Mr. Declan Smyth, Legal Adviser.
  • Mrs. Maeve von Heynitz, Ambassador of Ireland to Mexico.

Transparency Code

Thomas Bellew, Deputy Director of Security, Coordination & Compliance Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Nominated Official to liaise with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).

Section 5(7) of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shall prepare and publish a code, to be known as the "Transparency Code", which sets out how certain relevant public bodies, such as ministerial advisory groups, certain working groups etc. may conduct their activities in a transparent way.

By adhering to the Transparency Code, communications within these bodies would meet the exemption from the requirement to register and report on lobbying activities.

Relevant groups exempted under the Transparency Code are the Brexit Stakeholder Forum and the Export Trade Council.

Guidance

The Standards Commission has a role under the legislation to issue guidance and information and to promote an understanding of the legislation. The Standards Commission, in co-operation with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, has published guidance on the Regulation of Lobbying Act for Designated Public Officials.

Further information regarding the legislation and further guidance on the Act is available on the Regulation of Lobbying website at www.lobbying.ie. Further information may also be obtained by contacting the Standards Commission at info@lobbying.ie or at 01-6395722.

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