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

I will ask a broader question on the definition of lobbying. It is something I raised with the previous witnesses. I would be interested to hear the witnesses' views. At the moment, lobbying is when one is communicating directly or indirectly with a designated public official, DPO, on a relevant matter, the communication is not specifically exempted and one belongs to one of the detailed groups. I will not read them out. The relevant matter could consist of "the award of any grant, loan or other financial support, contract or other agreement". If I was lobbying for financial support, a contract or other agreement for myself, that would not be considered lobbying; however, if I did so as a third party paid to communicate on behalf of a client, it would be lobbying when it is with a DPO. Does that definition need to be broadened?