Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Bertók for sharing his experience and insights in this area. It is the equivalent in the modern context of what people referred to years ago as the unfamiliarity of the jungle. One needs a guide. Businesses that seek to develop goods and services want to ensure they can be produced and distributed in as certain a territory as they can arrange. Politicians and the public servants who support them are the agents for bringing about that certainty. We get to the core of the problem when we say that we should do whatever we can to shed more light on the activities of business people and those who do things that impact on public well-being such as not-for-profit organisations in order that they have clarity for their activities and conversations with people who have power.

As Senator Barrett noted, we have to be extra careful in this country because the Government is tight knit and powerful. It is not easy for parliamentarians to insist on debate or define the scope of such debate. We must be mindful of this when setting out a playing field or territory. The phrase "playing field" suggests it is a game, but these issues concern territory in which people live, work, learn and look after each other. We must be sensible and relevant in the rules and parameters of that territory. Mr. Bertók has seen a wide universe in this regard. In the context of a powerful and tight Executive that only changes every five years, where does he think we should concentrate? We will not get all of the answers to our questions, but it would be useful to learn where we should focus our efforts.