Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

However, it is hugely important and significant that we now have in place a proper and transparent system for appointing the members of State boards. If we are having this debate, we should look at the other reforms the Government has brought forward, for example, extending the Ombudsman's jurisdiction and powers and reforming the system of parliamentary inquiries, even in the wake of the defeat of the referendum in 2011. We will regulate lobbying through the Registration of Lobbying Bill which is going through the Oireachtas. Again, for the first time in the history of the State, it will introduce a register of lobbying. This is hugely important and something which has been called for by NGOs for many years. We have restored freedom of information legislation and reversed Fianna Fáil's attempts to dismantle the freedom of information system, about which my colleagues on the other side have probably forgotten. They sought to dismantle a system which had originally been introduced by the former Labour Party Minister of State, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald. We have put in place protected disclosures legislation to protect whistleblowers and are preparing an ethics Bill to overhaul ethics legislation.