Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. I was very interested to read Professor Murphy's opening statement and to listen to both speakers give their views on the different questions. It is important that we are discussing this legislation today. Both witnesses have clearly outlined the importance of openness and transparency in lobbying, the role that the current Act plays and how it can be strengthened. As the witnesses know, this Bill would enact a number of the recommendations made by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Twice in recent years, in 2016 and in 2019, that body has made recommendations to strengthen the legislation but there was a decision not to implement them. Now we are having a review of this. Where do the witnesses believe the barriers were? Was it in the Department or was it an institutional barrier? These are quite clear and practical recommendations to simply strengthen the Act. Why do the witnesses believe they were not implemented?