Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

I echo Senator Mooney's comments and I see he is wearing his green tie I am sure in honour of the forthcoming matches which I am sure we will all enjoy. I also send my best wishes to the Irish team and its wonderful manager, Mr. Trapattoni, whose age shall henceforth be forgotten.

I welcome Transparency International's report, Money, Politics, Power: Corruption Risks in Europe, published yesterday. I welcome it although its contention Ireland is less than welcome. It reminds us yet again that we still do not have a register of lobbyists, something we inherited from the previous Government which made no effort to have such a register. I see the report as something that places continuous pressure on both Houses to do something about it and to be the Government which does change it. I know there are plans for such a register but I hope this register will be mandatory. We should acknowledge that we are lobbied night, noon and morning. We are lobbied by e-mail, over coffee, in the AV room and in Buswells Hotel. It is a constant round of lobbying and people outside the buildings are not aware of the extent to which we are lobbied. Although sometimes it looks like a conversation, we are in fact constantly being lobbied and I for one would very much like to see a register of lobbyists introduced as a matter of urgency. I suggest to the Leader that this House might take a lead on this matter and debate it as early as he can arrange it.