David Norris (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate Senator Crown on his initiative in producing this timely and useful Bill. I know how difficult it is to draft legislation and think the Senator has done a remarkably good job in a relatively short space of time. The Senator has done an important service for the Seanad because he addresses an issue that is relevant and immediate and which shows the relevance and immediacy of Seanad Éireann. I hope the Government will at least accept the Bill in principle.

I do not know how much lobbying goes on around here, but I am aware that during my time former Members accepted jobs lobbying and had access, as former Members, to this House. I had serious qualms about that. In America, the cigarette lobby, for example, was under the radar and this country we have the drinks lobby. Both these lobbies do damage. Sometimes it is difficult to resist the temptations of those two attractive consumable items, but the lobbies should be in the open.

What I welcome most about this Bill is that it gives clarity to a position which was previously not quite clear. This provides protection for all of us. Once this Bill is passed, everybody here will know exactly where he or she stands with regard to Oireachtas stationery and every aspect of the situation. I am an Independent and am not firing a cheap shot, but I share the disappointment and was very surprised to hear Senator O'Brien to say that the Minister's response was prepared in advance of the Bill. I find that astonishing because if that is the case, it could not possibly be a coherent response. One cannot make a response to something which one has not read. For that reason, I think the speech should be withdrawn. I am not sure it is possible to state that something is unconstitutional when one does not know the provision. How could it be known? I will leave it at that.