Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----for instance, in the United States. I raise it as a serious point because, although one does not want to penalise voluntary effort or smother people with administrative burdens, the objective is to create and codify a system whereby lobbying is fully transparent and regulated. Deputy Sean Fleming has given an unqualified welcome to amendment No. 18, but I have deep reservations about it and I would like the Minister to address them when he gets to his feet.

In respect of Deputy Sean Fleming’s amendment, No. 58, which would exempt lobbying done on behalf of registered representative or advocacy organisations by volunteers, again, I support and understand the intent of the amendment, but it carries with it the same danger of creating a loophole that would be potentially exploited for the purpose of avoiding the very system of regulation that the legislation envisages.

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