David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Again, while I can understand the Minister's position, I make the point that he himself has listed off people who he thinks clearly should be on it such as Secretaries General, assistant secretaries and so on. As they already are targets, I am unsure why they should not be included in the Bill. How will one know who is caught by this measure if it simply is left in the general phraseology currently in the Bill? Moreover, if the Minister can do this by ministerial regulation, there is nothing to stop him from doing it in the Bill itself. I am familiar with the argument that frequently is made in terms of describing categories to the effect that there is a problem about being exhaustive and catching everybody. However, that could be remedied by another provision stating "such other officers as the Minister shall prescribe from time to time". However, I see no reason that Secretaries General and assistant secretaries, who have been mentioned by the Minister as clear targets, should not be listed in the legislation.

It is not an overwhelming point, because apparently these people are going to be dealt with at some stage - some of them now and some of them in a year's time. If the Minister can list them off - he has listed them off to the House already - I do not see why they cannot be listed in the Bill. Otherwise, one could say "prescribed political representatives" rather then Ministers, Members of the Dáil and Seanad, Members of the European Parliament, local authorities and so on. There is quite a strong argument for this amendment.