Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have already answered the point as I do not want to reverse the structure of the Bill. I presume what the Senator is referring to would take place in Northern Ireland, for example. Some Members in the House may live in Northern Ireland so when they go home and speak to neighbours, they could find themselves captured by the legislation. It is not practical to reverse the core of the Bill, which is a requirement simpliciterfor lobbyists, as defined in this Bill, to register. To reverse this and put a burden on anybody who is a designated recipient of lobbying under this legislation to be the proactive registrant, would change the structure of the Bill. It would be burdensome for Members of these Houses and all public officials if they had to monitor all conversations to ensure a person talking about public policy is registered under this legislation. The onus and burden should be on the lobbyist, and that is my intention.