Results 7,881-7,900 of 20,831 for speaker:David Norris

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I move amendment No. 47: In page 24, after line 26, to insert the following:"27.In any meetings between lobbyists and Ministers/Officials it shall be required that detailed minutes be kept of the content of the discussion of the meetings.".As I understand it, as it stands the Bill just registers the fact of lobbying. It would be important that we know the content of such lobbying,...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I have been generally in support of the Sinn Féin amendments but I find this one a little pettifogging. It is understandable in cases of a major company, but in the case of a voluntary organisation or an individual, that is an unnecessary volume of red tape. That is merely my opinion. I would find it difficult to support this amendment.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I suggest that Senator Ó Clochartaigh withdraw the amendment and re-enter it on Report Stage in a slightly different form with, for example, a cash limit. If it stated any lobbying activity costing more than €5,000, €10,000, €15,000, €100,000 or whatever, of course it would be another matter. Everybody knows that the big tobacco companies, the drinks sector...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I completely understand the Minister's position with regard to the national economy and any threat to the financial well-being of the State, but there may be circumstances, for example, where it would be good if a company was financially disadvantaged where its financial business was determined to be against the interests of the people. I assume that the powers to delay publication exist...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: While I understand Senator van Turnhout's concerns, it seems to me that nothing in the Bill actually suggests that a person who is registered as a lobbyist would be prevented from getting a grant. I think the concern is understandable, but I do not think it is supported by a close reading of the Bill.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I have spoken in rather negative terms about lobbying, as others have done, but I appreciate that there is also very good and informative lobbying that assists in the political debate. I do not see any reason somebody who is registered as a lobbyist should not be able to apply for a grant. I understand where Senator van Turnhout is coming from, but I do not think her concerns are reflected...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: As I understood Senator Byrne's original intervention, it was to capture people who went to a conference and were lobbied there by a company that had Irish interests. It would be lobbying on behalf of business operations in Ireland but, geographically, this might happen in England.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I suggested wording like "on official business". That would cover it without changing the Bill at all. It adds to the provisions rather than changing them. This would not reverse the flow of the Bill. This Government cannot presume to dictate the conditions of work of employees of a state in a foreign country but it can determine the behaviour of Irish officials on official business while...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: No, it is useful but it was unable to prevent the Government putting out posters lying about the Seanad before the referendum. One cannot expect it to achieve much.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I have another comment as I have been tempted by the Minister's mention of choosiness in the operations of the Standards in Public Office Act. I am certainly choosy and I spoke on the Order of Business about the requirement to clock in with fobs. The Minister does not have to do that.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: Elected Members have to do so. We are continuously told that in this technological age, one can work from home, on the plane, a train or a bus. Nevertheless, we have to be chained to the kennel like puppies. One must account for allowances through vouching. I know the Minister is enthusiastic about this and it was all fine for him when he went about extinguishing the leaders' allowance....

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: The Minister spoke about things being unacceptable. Nowhere in the amendment is there a question of subject matter being recorded; it is just a case of noting the fact that lobbying has taken place. The amendment will clearly not be accepted so I will leave it at that. We are entitled to know in principle if a public official has been lobbied while abroad. I am not at all confident that...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I also support this amendment because, for example, of the operation of multinational corporations, which have their tentacles everywhere. If they are prevented from lobbying in this country they may very well seek the opportunity of some kind of political meeting abroad to tackle public officials. This is a very reasonable amendment and I support it. I think I am right in saying that...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I understand the Minister's position and that he must deal with practical matters. To take a common-sense view, there is a substantial difference between a casual conversation when one is on holidays and deliberate lobbying.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I ask the Minister to consider this amendment further. I am sure Senator Byrne is not precious about the wording and I am sure he would accept something that the Minister had dollied up. For example, the Minister could add in the phrase "in the course of official business," which would exempt holidays and all the rest. In fact, registration is not a very serious burden. It is just...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: It would seem that civil servants are very likely to patronise the place.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I favour this amendment because it appears to address the question of what is called the permanent government, that is, those people who are there all the time and are central to the formation of policy, particularly Secretaries General, assistant secretaries, principal officers and so on. I notice that under section 6(1)(f), the Bill describes public servants of a prescribed nature but the...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: Again, while I can understand the Minister's position, I make the point that he himself has listed off people who he thinks clearly should be on it such as Secretaries General, assistant secretaries and so on. As they already are targets, I am unsure why they should not be included in the Bill. How will one know who is caught by this measure if it simply is left in the general phraseology...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

David Norris: I seek some information on the matter. First, I am surprised at this part of the Bill because I would have thought that these matters should be more appropriately dealt with in the definition section at the beginning of the Bill, but I see that there is not such a section. The second point is that the two lines referred to in the amendment, if I am correct, mean that it exempts the...