Lobbying regulation in Ireland: Fool’s errand or finest hour?

Abstract

This paper examines and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the 2015 Regulation of Lobbying Act passed by the Fine Gael/Labour government. It addresses the question of whether the Act was of a cosmetic nature with little impact on openness, transparency and accountability in public life or whether it was the result of positive policy learning from international experiences. After assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Act, the paper argues that the leadership of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, TD, acting in a policy entrepreneurial way, was vital to the implementation of the Act in its final form. Finally, the paper advocates the view that the introduction of this Act is of crucial importance in ensuring that public policymaking in the Irish state is open, transparent and accountable.

Keywords

• lobbying
• regulation
• accountability
• political leadership
• citizens