Tweets could qualify as lobbying under Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015

The legislation came into force late last year and requires those who lobby designated public officials to register and report on their lobbying activities.

The lobbying rules apply to employers with more than 10 employees, representative and advocacy bodies, and any communications about land zoning or development.

The first-ever annual report on the Act states: “The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 makes no distinction as to the method, venue or formality of a relevant communication. If a person within the scope of the legislation communicates with a designated public official about a relevant matter, it counts as lobbying and must be registered.

“Under the Act, informal encounters that take place socially, in a business premises or on the street may be considered lobbying, just as a meeting in a councillor’s office or inside Leinster House. Texts or emails may count as lobbying, as indeed might the use of social media in certain cases.

“Many have asked specifically about the use of Twitter. Generally a tweet directed at a broad audience and not targeted at someone would not be considered lobbying. However, if a tweet is sent to an individual designated public official, or that official is tagged in the tweet, it may be registrable lobbying depending on whether the person sending it falls within the scope of the Act and whether the subject of the tweet concerns a relevant matter.”