Sipo wants two-year jail term for breaches of ban on lobbying after leaving public office

The watchdog says current rules for politicians and top civil servants who break post-employment rules are not enforceable

Current rules ban certain public officials from lobbying or being employed by a lobbyist for a year after they leave their post but Sipo says they are not enforceable. Picture: Getty

The state’s anti-corruption watchdog has recommended that breaches of the rules placed on politicians and senior civil servants when they leave office should carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, a €2,500 fine, or both.

The Standards in Public Office Committee (Sipo) said rules which ban certain public officials from lobbying or being employed by a lobbyist for a year after they leave their post were not currently legally enforceable.

Sherry Perreault, head of ethics and lobbying regulation at Sipo, told the Business Post: “While the Regulation of Lobbying Act does provide for offences for other breaches, such as lobbying without registering or failing to submit a lobbying return by the statutory deadline, breaches of the Act’s post-employment provisions are not enforceable.”