Bill tracking lobbyists watered down

Laws aimed at helping citizens track the influence that lobbyists have on government policy have been watered down significantly from what was initially planned, according to anti-corruption campaigners.

The Transparency International Ireland group said efforts to tackle secrecy in how ministers reach decisions should go further than planned in the Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014.

A report, called Influence and Integrity, finds that corporate interests are “more or less guaranteed access to senior decision-makers and politicians” and that the influence they enjoy “has a real bearing on the lives of all citizens”.