Lobbying, according to the act, is defined as communication (in any form) made personally (directly or indirectly) to a designated public official in return for payment or as part of their work, relating to:
a. “the initiation, development or modification of any public policy or of any public programme
b. the preparation of an enactment, or
c. the award of any grant, loan or other financial support, contract or other agreement, or of any licence or other authorisation involving public funds apart from matters relating only to the implementation of any such policy, programme, enactment or award of a technical nature.”
d. In addition to that, any communication “about the development or zoning of land under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2014” with the exception of that relating to a person’s own principal private residence is captured under the Act.
Does this impact my work at RCSI?
If you think that any dealings you may have with public officials or bodies in your RCSI role or have a question on any aspect of lobbying or the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, please get in touch with the Communications Department at lobbying@rcsi.ie.
What constitutes a designated public body or official?
Any communication where a, b, c or d (as above) is discussed with a public representative, official or body will be regarded as lobbying. Here is a list of such individuals and groups, of which communications with, would need to come be registered as a ‘return’.
- Ministers
- Ministers of State
- Members of Dail Eireann
- Members of Seanad Eireann
- Members of European Parliament
- Members of Local Authorities
- Special Advisors
- Senior Civil and Public Servants (Secretary Generals and Assistant Secretary Generals and equivalent grades in local authorities)
- The Health Service Executive (HSE)
- A full and comprehensive list of public bodies is available here.
What lobbying IS NOT
Lobbying does not cover all engagement with public officials, but rather only those related to the development or zoning of land, seeking the initiation or amendment of public policy, the preparation of a bill or the award of public funds.
For example, meeting your local TD or councillor on the street and talking to him about a GAA match is not counted as lobbying.