Madam, – The Public Relations Consultants Association has welcomed the move by Government to introduce transparency to the legitimate work of Government lobbying.
Every day, Government Ministers and their officials are lobbied not only by those working fulltime in Public Affairs or Public Relations on behalf of their clients, but also by accountants, lawyers, heads of professional bodies, those in trade union movements, to name but a few.
To suggest, as Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte has done, that the statutory registration would be limited to “paid lobbyists” fails to recognise the legitimate lobbying undertaken by legal and financial professionals, among many others, during the course of their work on behalf of their clients.
It is imperative therefore, in any proposed legislation, that the word “lobbyist” is defined in its broadest sense to ensure that all those seeking to influence Government are registered, thereby appropriately recording and recognising the legitimate work they do in the broader area of public affairs.
The register must be comprehensive and must include all interests. – Yours, etc,