The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015
The purpose of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 is to detail that the Standards in Public Office Commission (The Standards Commission) will establish and maintain an online Register of Lobbying activity – www.lobbying.ie. The purpose of it is to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions. The Standards Commission has a role under the legislation to issue guidance and information and to provide an understanding of the legislation. The Standards Commission, in co-operation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has published guidance on the Regulation of Lobbying Act for Designated Public Officials.
Designated Officers
In accordance with the Act the names, grades and brief details of the roles and responsibilities of the ‘Designated Public Officials’ within the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General are detailed below.
Colette Drinan – Secretary and Director of Audit
Colette is the Accounting Officer for the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and is accountable to Dáil Éireann and the Comptroller and Auditor General for the general administration of the Office including finance and budgeting, human resources, ICT, learning and development and facilities, corporate strategy, corporate reporting, partnership and international relations. She is responsible for the appropriation account audits of central government departments and offices, the audit of the finance accounts and financial sector audits, and reporting on the financial sectors and exchequer control.
Andrew Harkness – Director of Audit
Andrew is responsible for financial audits in the semi state, health, enterprise and education sectors. He is also responsible for the management of contracting of audits and the Offices’ quality and standards unit and for the Office's audit insights programme.
Deirdre Quaid – Director of Audit
Deirdre is responsible for reporting across the public sector including the publication of the annual report on the accounts of the public services and all special reports. She is also responsible for the financial audits of the Revenue Account, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the Social Insurance Fund and the Tax Appeals Commission.
