Extension Of The Lobbying Register

On 30 August 2024 the long-awaited Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (Designated Public Officials) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 424/2024) (the "2024 Regulations") were published (available here). The 2024 Regulations will significantly increase the list of public service positions which are to be considered as Designated Public Officials ("DPO") for the purposes of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (the "2015 Act").

It had previously been announced in the Programme for Government that the lobbying register would be extended to include certain officeholders with the Central Bank of Ireland, as well as other public bodies, where such officeholders have significant policy making functions. The 2024 Regulations, which come into effect on 1 January 2025, has confirmed this and bring certain other senior officials within public bodies such as the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission, Coimisiún na Meán and the Corporate Enforcement Authority within the scope of