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Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 - Designated Public Officials

The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 commenced on 1 September 2015.

The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission will establish and maintain an online Register of lobbying activity, making information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions. Lobbyists must report on their interactions with the Designated Public Officials.

Section 6(4) of the Act requires each public body to publish a list of Designated Public Officials of that body. The list is a resource for lobbyists filing a return to the Register who may need to source a designated public official’s details. The list of Designated Public Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is set out in the list below:

  • Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D. Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  • Mr. Matthew Lynch, Special Adviser to the Tánaiste.
  • Mr. Chris Donoghue, Special Adviser to the Tánaiste.
  • Ms. Laura McGonigle, Special Adviser to the Tánaiste.
  • Mr. Paul Fox, Special Adviser to the Minister of State for European Affairs.
  • Mr. Niall Burgess, Secretary General.
  • Ms. Geraldine Byrne Nason, Second Secretary General, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, New York.
  • Mr. Adrian O’Neill, Second Secretary General, Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain.
  • Mr. Brendan Rogers, Deputy Secretary General, Political Division, Headquarters.
  • Mr. John Conlan, Chief Financial Officer.
  • Mr. Ruairí de Búrca, Assistant Secretary, Development Cooperation Division, Headquarters.
  • Ms. Ann Derwin, Assistant Secretary, Global Irish Services Division, Headquarters.
  • Mr. Austin Gormley, Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Division, Headquarters.
  • Mr. Joseph Hackett, Assistant Secretary, EU Division, Headquarters.
  • Ms. Sonja Hyland, Assistant Secretary, Political Director, Headquarters.
  • Mr. James Kingston, Legal Adviser.
  • Mr. Eamonn McKee, Assistant Secretary, Trade & Promotion Division, Headquarters.
  • Mr. Fergal Mythen, Assistant Secretary, Ireland UK & Americas Division, Headquarters.
  • Ms. Aingeal O’Donoghue, Assistant Secretary, EU Division, Headquarters.
  • Mr. John Concannon: Director General, Global Ireland. 
  • Ms. Maeve Collins, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union. 
  • Mr. Michael Gaffey, Assistant Secretary, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva.
  • Ms. Barbara Jones, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to Mexico.
  • Mr. J P Kavanagh, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to Japan.
  • Mr. Tom Hanney, Assistant Secretary, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union.
  • Mr. Dan Mulhall, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States of America.
  • Ms. Patricia O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to France.
  • Mr. Nicholas O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Mr. Colm Ó Floinn, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to Italy.
  • Ms. Orla O’Hanrahan, Assistant Secretary, Global Ireland Unit.
  • Mr. Eoin O’Leary, Assistant Secretary, Ambassador of Ireland to the People’s Republic of China.

Transparency Code

Ms Fiona Flood, Director of Security, Coordination & Compliance Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Nominated Official to liaise with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).

Section 5(7) of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shall prepare and publish a code, to be known as the "Transparency Code", which sets out how certain relevant public bodies, such as ministerial advisory groups, certain working groups etc. may conduct their activities in a transparent way.

By adhering to the Transparency Code, communications within these bodies would meet the exemption from the requirement to register and report on lobbying activities.

Relevant groups exempted under the Transparency Code are the Brexit Stakeholder Forum and the Export Trade Council.

Guidance

The Standards Commission has a role under the legislation to issue guidance and information and to promote an understanding of the legislation. The Standards Commission, in co-operation with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, has published guidance on the Regulation of Lobbying Act for Designated Public Officials.

Further information regarding the legislation and further guidance on the Act is available on the Regulation of Lobbying website at www.lobbying.ie. Further information may also be obtained by contacting the Standards Commission at info@lobbying.ie or at 01-6395722.

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