The conference – International Trends in Lobbying Regulation: Lessons Learned for Ireland – was held in the European Parliament Offices, 43 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 on Monday 13 December 2010. 

 This one day Policy Institute (TCD) conference examined how lobby groups are formally regulated internationally and the lessons that could be learned for Ireland. The programme included keynote talks from leading lobbying experts from business, academic and administrative backgrounds. 

The conference was organised by Dr Raj Chari (Trinity College Dublin), Dr Gary Murphy (Dublin City University) and Dr John Hogan (DIT) who have recently published a book titled Regulating Lobbying: A Global Comparison. 

Lynn Morrison, Ontarion Integrity Commissioner

Presenters:

Dr Gary Murphy – Associate Professor in Government, DCU

Dr Raj Chari – Senior Lecturer in Political Science, TCD

Prof Frank Baumgartner – Richard J. Richardson Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina, USA

Mrs Lynn Morrison – Integrity Commissioner of Ontario and Lobbyist Registrar of Ontario

Ms Lucy Cronin – Partner, Policy Action (Brussels and Dublin)

Dr Stephen Stacey – General Manager, European and Government Affairs, Toyota Motor Europe

Session Chairs:

Chair: Prof Patrick Paul Walsh – Head of School, School of Politics and International Relations, UCD

Dr. Peter Brennan, Managing Director, EPS Consulting Ltd

Between presentations

Senator Ivana Bacik

Regulating Lobbying: A Global Comparison was launched on the evening of 19 May, in European Union House, Dawson Street, Dublin, by Senator Ivana Bacik. 

The families, friends, and colleagues of the authors, Raj Chari (TCD), John Hogan (DIT) and Gary Murphy (DCU) were in attendance. 

Professor Gary Murphy (DCU)

Professor Gary Murphy (DCU) speaking at the book launch. Gary spoke on the importance of the lobbying industry to the functioning of modern liberal democracies, and on the value of regulating the industry in the interest of transparency and accountability. Gary talked of the importance of academic research in terms of knowledge creation, but also in terms of informing policy debates. 

The Authors and Senator

The authors with Senator Bacik and Jack Murphy 

The Authors: Left to right John Hogan (DIT), Raj Chari (TCD), Prof. Gary Murphy