It will become mandatory for political lobbyists to register and disclose their clients and activities under new legislation proposed by Fianna Fáil.
The party’s environment spokesman Niall Collins published a political lobby bill today that it will introduce in the Dáil during the current Spring session.
The Bill, which is heavily influenced by principles established by a comprehensive OECD report last year, accepts that lobbying public office holders is a legitimate activity but is also designed to ensure that it is done with the strongest level of transparency.
Mr Collins said that, if accepted, the Bill would revamp the political system by making knowledge of all lobbying activity openly availalbe and accessible by the public. That, he said, would level the playing field for everybody involved in public life.
A large number of former politicians and senior party officials work as lobbyists or in the public affairs arena. They include former PD ministers Tom Parlon, now CEO of the Construction Federation of Ireland; and Liz O’Donnell; former Fianna Fáil TD Jim Glennon; former government press secretary PJ Mara and prominent party officials including Stephen O’Byrne (PDs); and Martin Mackin and Jackie Gallagher (PDs).
The Coaliton has its own plans to introduce a Bill to register lobbyists. In December, Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin initiated a public consultation process. Its own Bill is slated for publication in early 2013.
“What we are proposing to do is remove any veil of secrecy,” said Mr Collins.
“We want to open it up and make it transparent to everybody. We feel that the publication is timely because Government has indicated they are going down the road of disposing State assets.
“Taking on board the report of the Moriarty Tribunal, there will be all sorts of lobbying going on in terms of getting them into position in the disposal of State assets.”