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Introduction
Public affairs
professionals established the Northern Ireland Government Affairs
Group in 1999 to raise the standards and enhance the reputation
of public affairs locally.
Members come
from a wide range of backgrounds – commercial public affairs
and PR companies, the voluntary sector, education, trade associations,
business public affairs and lobbying activities on behalf of local
interest groups are undertaken professionally and responsibly.
The Northern
Ireland Government Affairs Group aims to
- Provide
members with regular opportunities to hear and discuss views and
case histories with relevant speakers;
- Respond to
or initiate statements on policy issues affecting the conduct
of public affairs; and
- Take opportunities
to encourage and facilitate educational activities for members
and aspiring practitioners.
NIGAG’s members believe that the lobbying of politicians and
governmental institutions is an entirely proper and legitimate activity
in itself. It occurs in all free and democratic societies, and is
indeed a fundamental democratic right. Lobbying fulfils a number
of highly proper functions:
- Lobbyists
act as a bridge between policy makers and wider civil society.
They ensure that politicians and civil servants are aware of the
needs, desires and interests of particular groups of people or
organisations; or alternatively that they can play a part in ensuring
that the interests of specialised and homogenous groups are represented;
- Lobbyists
enable interest groups and sections of the electorate to participate
in the political process beyond casting votes at elections, ensuring
decision makers remain responsive to public opinion between elections;
and
Lobbyists assist
public office holders to find solutions to specific policy problems
or issues, thus improving the quality of our government.
Previous
Guest Speakers include
Rt. Hon Charles
Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Rt. Hon David
Trimble MLA MLA, First Minister and Leader of the Ulster Unionist
Party
Mr Mark Durkan
MLA, Deputy First Minister and SDLP Leader
Dr Chris Gibson,
Chairman of the Civic Forum
Rt. Hon Quentin
Davies MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Mr Denis Haughey
MLA, Minister, Office of the First & Deputy First Minister
Mr Robert McCartney
QC MLA, Leader of the UK Unionist Party
Mr Edwin Poots
MLA, Chairman, Committee of the Centre
Mr James Leslie
MLA, Minister, Office of the First & Deputy First Minister
Mr David Ervine
MLA, Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Mr David Ford
MLA, Leader of the Alliance Party
Ms Bairbre de
Brun MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Mr Peter Robinson
MP MLA, Deputy Leader, Democratic Unionist Party
We have also organised seminars on the following areas
The Civic Forum
Programme for
Government
Public Administration
Review
How the NI Assembly
Works
How to lobby
Westminster
How to lobby
the European Union
Freedom of Information
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