Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I got that impression. I wish to have a few points clarified. The Minister stated that some information is covered by freedom of information legislation and can be obtained in that way. This is limited, and commercial sensitivity probably excludes most of what we are speaking about. The Minister also stated that I do not appreciate the system he has put in place with regard to the Commission for Public Service Appointments and people lobbying for positions on State boards. I never suggested that people should not lobby for such positions; I just stated that it should be covered by the legislation. We are ad idemon everything the Minister is including in his system by way of guidelines. I suggest taking it a step further and making it statutory. I do not contradict anything the Minister has done and I am not stating that people should not try to make contact. There is a process and I am all for it. I am just saying that people contacting Ministers should be included in the legislation.

See this speech in context