Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

While I do not disagree with Senator Norris, I contend we need to differentiate clearly between public representatives lobbying and making representations. People are happy with how the political system operates in Ireland as it gives them access to public representatives to make their case on any given subject. Provided people meet the appropriate criteria pertaining to getting whatever they are making representations on, I do not see a difficulty.

Senator Alex White has withdrawn his amendment to section 221. I ask the Minister to consider the issue because it relates to an employee of NAMA or a NAMA entity or somebody acting on behalf of NAMA who is approached or lobbied to make a certain decision in favour of a person, issue or valuation. The provision compels the employee to report the fact that they have been communicated with. Subsection (6) makes it an offence for the employee not to report the communication. While one may be ill-advised not to communicate the information to the Garda or one's superiors, one's not doing so should not be an offence.