Mr. János Bertók:

Senator Barrett raised a very important aspect. This is also part of the reality. If we go back over history and look at the United States, there is documented evidence of how the very intensive lobbying was one of the causes of the financial crisis there. This is well documented. It shows that a system is a single system and there is no different lobbying registration and reporting system for certain sectors. Senator Barrett mentioned the financial or banking sector. This single system should also handle these concerns of which Senator Barrett spoke. We are talking about one single system which includes or addresses these kinds of concerns but also the SMEs, social groups, charities and civil society organisations of which we spoke in the previous couple of minutes. The lobby registration legislation is not the only tool for this. On transparency and accountability mechanisms such as consultation, part of it is also how public officials or the members in the parliament balance the views and invite other alternative views in order to get additional information.

This also links to other what we call safeguards for the integrity of the decision-making process. In the list of questions, the committee highlighted some of the questions related to cooling-off periods or revolving doors. I can also refer to some countries, in fact, a neighbouring country but also the United States, on the revolving door practice. For example, between 60% and 70% of the Congress, for example, in the Senate, go to lobby firms to become lobbyists. They are lobbying previous colleagues. It is documented that if they have the same colour or group in power in Washington DC, the former US Senators receive on average between 60% and 70% higher recognition. I refer to income. It shows that lobbying is not only representing. Lobbying is also access.

How one balances this access is not only about provisions of the lobbying legislation but is a much wider question of transparency and, as I mentioned, inclusion in the policymaking. It is similarly important to consider the linkages of the Oireachtas legislation on lobbying to open government, inclusive policymaking, consultation processes and revolving door issues, such as cooling-off periods, representations, etc.