Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I could not agree more with the Deputy. She is aware I published a Private Members' Bill on this subject but it is a complicated issue. Lobbying is legitimate and every citizen and representative group should be able to lobby, whether it is a group representing the unemployed, farmers, single parents or anybody else. The issue is that it must be done in a regulated way that is transparent and in accordance with best practice and we also need to avoid undue influence in the hands of some. This is an important part of the body of legislation on transparency the Government will enact. I would welcome the Deputy to the forum we will hold in July to hear ideas. I will produce papers and the submissions received to date and we will see how we can take it forward. We are already working on the draft heads of the Bill so the Tánaiste is correct in this regard. It may be preferable to bring the heads of Bill to the committee rather than the completed Bill. I have an open mind on this and I will be interested to hear the Deputy's views on it.

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