Lobbying Bill will come before Cabinet for Government approval today

Long-awaited legislation to regulate lobbyists is expected to be given the green light by Government today.

Minister for Public Reform Brendan Howlin will bring a memorandum to Government seeking approval to publish the Bill, which will make professional lobbyists as well as groups and organisations who lobby subject to a register and regulation for the first time.

Earlier drafts of the legislation envisaged a register of lobbyists to be set up online.

Cooling off

It would also ensure former public officials be subject to a “cooling off” period for up to a year before seeking to lobby former colleagues or Ministers with whom they worked.

The primary focus of the register of lobbyists was to be on the subject matter of the communication, the purpose of the lobbying, the identity of those who were lobbied, the frequency and nature of the lobbying, and its impact.

Mr Howlin and his officials have been working on this complex piece of legislation for more than three years.