Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015

Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015

The Regulation of LobbyingAct2015 is designed to provide information to the public about who is lobbying whom and about what. The Standards in Public Office Commission has established an online register of lobbying at www.lobbying.ie

Section 6(4) of the Act requires each public body to publish a list of designated public officials of the body.  The purpose of the list is twofold:

1. To enable members of the public to identify those persons who are designated public officials; and
2. As a resource for lobbyists making returns to the Register and who may need to provide a designated public official’s details.

Further information regarding the legislation and guidance on the operation of the Act is available on the Regulation of Lobbying website at www.lobbying.ie. Information may also be obtained from the Standards in Public Office Commissionat info@sipo.ie or by telephoning 01-6395666.

The Standards in Public Office Commission has published a Code of Conduct for persons carrying on lobbying activities. The Code, which is published in accordance with section 16 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, comes into effect on 1 January 2019 and sets standards of conduct for persons carrying on lobbying activities. Any party carrying on lobbying activities, including employers, third parties, representative or advocacy bodies and individuals alike, must have regard to the Code when communicating with public bodies and public officials. A copy of the Code is available on lobbying.ie or in the related documents below

DESIGNATED PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 – Designated Public Officials in the Valuation Office (Assistant Secretaries and Equivalent Grades)

Colm Lavery, Commissioner of Valuation and Chief Boundary Surveyor 

Commissioner of Valuation

The Valuation Office is an independent Government Office headed by the Commissioner of Valuation. The current holder of this position is Colm Lavery, who was appointed to the post under section 9 of the Valuation Act 2001.

The core function of the Valuation Office is the establishment and maintenance of a uniform and equitable valuation base on which commercial rates are levied by Local Authorities, as provided by the Valuation Acts 2001, as amended. These valuations are integral to the commercial rating system in Ireland and form the basis for approximately €1.46 billion of Local Government funding each year.

As Commissioner of Valuation, Colm Lavery has responsibility for the overall management of the Valuation Office including management of staff and financial resources, delivery of the core remit of the Office to provide up to date valuations of commercial and industrial properties to ratepayers and to rating authorities, delivery of the national revaluation programme, delivery of a programme of ongoing revision of existing rateable valuations.

As Commissioner of Valuation, Colm Lavery is also responsible for the provision of valuation services to various Government Departments and State agencies and other public bodies, on a non-statutory basis. The Office carries out open market capital and rental valuations including valuations for rent reviews for these customers. Open market valuations are provided for properties being transferred between Government Departments, State bodies and other authorities and agencies, both local and national.

The Commissioner of Valuation is Accounting Officer for the Valuation Office and Valuation Tribunal (Vote 16).

Under the Public Service Management Act 1997, the Commissioner of Valuation has the following responsibilities:

• managing the business generally of the Valuation Office;
• implementing Government policies appropriate to the Office;
• monitoring Government policies that affect the Office;
• delivering outputs as determined with the Minister;
• providing policy advice to the Minister on all matters within the remit of the Office;
• preparing Strategic Plans for submission to the Minister ;
• providing progress reports to the Minister on the implementation of the Strategic Plans;
• ensuring proper use of resources and the provision of cost-effective public services;
• preparing an outline of how specific responsibilities are to be assigned to other officers down through the Office;
• managing matters relating to appointments, performance, discipline and dismissal of civil servants below the grade of Principal or its equivalent.
   

Chief Boundary Surveyor

As Chief Boundary Surveyor, Colm Lavery is responsible for advising on the fixing of maritime and international boundaries and for the exercise of functions under the Boundary Survey (Ireland) Acts 1854 to 1859.