Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe signed the order to enforce the provisions of the Lobbying Act 2015 from the start of next year.

The enforcement means that any lobbying group not registering their activities at www.lobbying.ie every four months can be sanctioned from 1 January 2017. Delayed filings are punished by a €200 on-the-spot fine and the Lobbying Commission has the power to initiate prosecution against more serious offences.

The aim of the new regulations is to increase transparency in the lobbying of government officials by interest groups, including farming organisations.

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Obligation since September

The new legalisation came into effect in September, but the government delayed the start date for enforcement to allow users to become familiar with the new system and to rectify any concerns about non-compliance.

Speaking of the new regulations, Minister Donohoe said: “Building awareness and understanding of the Regulation of Lobbying Act has been effective and I am confident that this momentum will be maintained as this work continues.”

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New register for lobbying activity

IFA second most active lobbying organisation on official register