Public relations not quite public enough

PUBLIC relations lobbyists will not be obliged to make it publicly known whose interests they are representing under a new code of conduct for their industry.

But Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen may bring in laws obliging PR people to publicly state the identity of their clients, following recent revelations of wrongdoing in the sector.

The Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) says it is open to the introduction of a public register, but did not put it into its draft code of professional practice on lobbying and public affairs.