Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. Sometimes it takes the publication of our own legislation to spark the Government into action. In response to a question from Deputy Mairéad Farrell earlier this year, the Minister said he believed this was not required. It is good to see that there has at least been some movement in the Department's view on this matter, although it was brought on by a former Minister of State who brought forward legislation for an industry on behalf of which he began to act as a lobbyist some months later.

That brings the issue of SIPO's powers to investigate and to sanction those who do not comply with section 22 of the Act into sharp focus. What are the commission's views on that? Is it the most important power it needs at this point in time? What is its view on the anti-avoidance provision laid out in section 6 which would it make it an offence to deliberately avoid obligations under the Act? Do the witnesses believe that is onerous, for example, in the case of people deleting social media? What are the commission's views on the stated position of a number of Ministers who have operated through private email accounts in the past? How does that comply with their obligations under the code of conduct? Will the representatives clarify the commission's position on the extension of the cooling-off period from one year to two?