Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

-----and in regard to the bribing of public representatives and officials, I asked the Taoiseach yesterday about a commitment in the previous programme for Government to regulate the lobbying industry. The current programme for Government, agreed two and a half years later because nothing had happened in the meantime, has a renewed commitment to the regulation of lobbying.

The Taoiseach suggested that I await the reply of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the matter I put down on the Adjournment. I got that last night but I am none the wiser. The reply states: "The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is considering these issues on behalf of the Government, in line with the commitment in the renewed programme for Government."

See this speech in context