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SIPO sanctions for ‘cooling-off’ breaches

The remaining provisions of legislation on lobbying are to come into effect from 1 June after the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe (pictured) signed the relevant order.

Among the measures to be introduced are provisions for the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) to impose sanctions for breaches of the rules on employment ‘cooling-off’ periods.

These rules apply to designated public officials (DPOs), who are subject to restrictions on lobbying activities after leaving their public employment.

Lobbying register

The Regulation of Lobbying and Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) 2023 Act made changes to the original 2015 legislation on lobbying.

Provisions covering updates and improvements to the lobbying register had already come into force on 1 January 2024.

The main provisions to be introduced on 1 June include:

• A new ‘relevant contravention’ in the 2015 act covering the taking of any action by a person that has the intended purpose of avoiding the obligations to either register or submit lobbying returns to SIPO, and
• Amending the 2015 act to make failure to comply with the cooling-off provisions of section 22 of the 2015 act a ‘relevant contravention’.

Penalty of up to €25,000

SIPO will operate a system of sanctions for ‘cooling-off’ breaches, which will include a caution or reprimand, a monetary penalty of up to €25,000, and a prohibition from lobbying of up to two years.

Minister Donohoe said that the changes would ensure that the framework for the regulation of lobbying remained up to date and fit for purpose.

From 2015, there has been a requirement for those who lobby DPOs to register and report on their lobbying activities every four months on the Register of Lobbying.