Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the picture has frozen again and I can only hear Mr. Bertók. I have a couple of short questions, some of which Mr. Bertók has already answered or touched on.

The entry level for those required to be registered is something that concerns me greatly. One of the points my colleague raised a few minutes ago related to when a pressure group was formed. It could be something as simple as a group of residents having regard to certain items that they wish to discuss with their local public representative, whether a Member of Parliament or otherwise. Are these individuals required to be registered as lobbyists in the view of the OECD and based on the examples Mr. Bertók has, no doubt, gone through as part of his job?

I am interested in the point to which Mr. Bertók referred regarding the level of detail required by way of a report to be issued by the individuals concerned. As a public representative I would be greatly concerned as to whether individuals who come to me presenting information, as they do on a regular basis, attempting to have me influence those around the Cabinet table in this Parliament, would be subject to any lobbying laws that we introduce.

Mr. Bertók touched on one of the most important points concerning charities. My colleague, Senator Coghlan, mentioned it earlier. From my experience in the United States, such organisations use big firms, such as law firms, on a regular basis to engage in the lobbying process for them. In that regard the lobbyist is clearly registered and adhering to the law of the land but not necessarily the spirit of the legislation, which is that the individual who hired them should be the one who is registered so that those in the public domain such as public representatives or interested parties are aware of whom they are talking to when they speak to the public face of a lobbying firm. Mr. Bertók addressed some of the issues already but I would welcome his response.