Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Lobbying is one issue that we did not discuss. As the Senator will know, we have published extensive heads of a Bill to regulate lobbyists. People involved in lobbying were strongly at pains to underscore to me that the business of lobbying is perfectly legitimate and that virtually every citizen engages in it. Whether it is the Children's Rights Alliance - perhaps I should not use it as an example in the presence of the Acting Chairman - the agricultural community or the IFA, lobbying is part of the democratic process. The objective is to conduct it in a transparent and open manner and to ensure that there are not fellas whispering into important ears at the back of a tent in Galway. There are consequences when a lobbyist gets their way. It is not a matter for the Ombudsman to deal with no more than I would regard it legitimate for the Ombudsman to deal with the adverse impact of a regulatory decision from, for example, the Competition Authority, ComReg or anybody else.

We will have a chance to discuss in some detail the robust mechanisms that deal with the regulation of lobbyists in the House. I do not foresee a particular role for the Ombudsman in that regard.