Sean Barrett (Independent)

We are approaching the third anniversary of the most successful lobbying ever accomplished in any country, namely, the bankrupting of this country by the banks. I would like to see the Government treat the matter more urgently. We cannot allow that to continue, given the damage it has done to everybody in society.

This Bill attempts to bring situations like that out into the open. We do not know the answer to any of the questions about the successful lobbying of the banks in the Department of the Taoiseach on 29 and 30 September 2008. It is strongly believed that the construction sector has a track record in doing that, as well. What else was the Galway tent for?

When one thinks of Basil Chubb's book, which described politicians going around persecuting civil servants, maybe we should redefine political activity as to what goes on in Parliament, including the discussions we are having now, rather than placing the emphasis on lobbying. Parliamentarians have a duty to make laws and engage in these kind of discussions and debates.

While I appreciate the Government's bona fides in introducing whistle-blower legislation, we have also had legislation that was designed to prevent things coming out into the open. We all want to see parliamentary reform and more open politics, but I sometimes fear that the permanent Government still rules. Certainly, the document prepared in this case reads like that and the Minister of State looked ill at ease reading it out. We have elections to change things and the last election was the greatest vote for change ever, as all commentators have pointed out. I am disappointed, however, that we are being told yet again that the Government will bring forward proposals some time. There should be a more open attitude to legislation from the Government side of the House.

I believe that having a record of representations that are made is useful, yet it was almost categorised in the Minister of State's reply as an offence in itself and a form of legalising lobbying. The crime is in the lobbying, while the solution is to have a record of that lobbying. There should be scope for more dialogue than we saw between the Minister of State and Senator Crown.