Lobbying regulation in Ireland: Some thoughts from the international evidence

Throughout the liberal democratic world, the practice of lobbying governments and policy makers is considered integral to the process of policy formulation. Lobbying in Ireland has come to the fore of public policy debates given the catastrophic collapse of the Irish economy since late 2008 and the role played by lobbyists in contemporary Irish politics. This article offers the results of one of the first significant questionnaires on lobbying regulation given to politicians, lobbyists and administrators in the Republic of Ireland. The aim of this article is to present Irish policy makers with a range of options to consider in relation to devising a system of lobbying regulation to promote transparency. We present insights into international best practice in terms of lobbying regulations so that Irish policy makers can reach informed decisions when considering this matter.