Ms Mary Jackson:

The Department is not currently drafting alternative or parallel legislation. When the Deputy's Bill was published, we got approval from the Government to support it and examine its scope. For it to move to the Department, we would have to ask for further Government approval. It is not on our legislative agenda at the moment. We are happy with whatever works. The good thing about this legislation is that we are all in unison about what we want, and we want what is best. We can discuss with the Minister and with Deputy Kelleher what the best way forward on it is, but the Department would have to get approval from the Government to move on this legislation.

Registering the providers of gifts or monetary transfers would provide a much more comprehensive register than one recording all the individual recipients. Where the proposal made by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, works well is in ensuring 100% transparency where entities are concerned, as far as we know. It is the individuals that are blocking their information. If there was full transparency concerning all transfers of value, then it would be equitable and no single group would be distinct in having to declare their information.