Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (Research)

Department

Cork Institute of Technology

First Advisor

Emmett Coffey

Second Advisor

Dr. Gearoid O'Suilleabhain

Abstract

In common with most other nations, Ireland currently has no statutory regulation of lobbying activities. This paper considers the pervasive context of political lobbying and analyses various suggestions for lobbying regulation which have been proposed. 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. Ireland prides itself on the ability of all its citizens to have access to their elected representatives. However, there are relatively few professional lobbyists and, for most, their engagement with politicians, officials and public bodies is only part of what they do. There is a far wider band of professional, industry, academic and voluntary sector interaction with the State that seeks to influence public policy and political decisions. But to focus exclusively on professional or commercial lobbyists would be in fact to exclude most lobbying and be effectively worthless. Certainly professional lobbyists may be involved. But for the most part most lobbying is in fact done by people who describe themselves differently. If the legislation that the Department of Expenditure and Public Reform propose is accepted, it will make Ireland one of the most robust systems in the world for lobbying regulation.

Comments

MA in Public Relations with New Media

Access Level

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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