David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I suggested wording like "on official business". That would cover it without changing the Bill at all. It adds to the provisions rather than changing them. This would not reverse the flow of the Bill. This Government cannot presume to dictate the conditions of work of employees of a state in a foreign country but it can determine the behaviour of Irish officials on official business while abroad. I am not impugning the reputation of any company but Guinness, owned by Diageo, comes to mind. If it wanted to keep its feet clean in Ireland, its representatives could always lobby Irish officials abroad. All this requires is registration of the fact that there has been lobbying, and that is not very detailed and it would not take very long. It is not an onerous requirement and it would have nothing to do with conversations on holiday. This would relate to official business when, for example, a multinational corporation would try to lobby an Irish official in the interests of the company's operations in Ireland. It is a reasonable proposal that does not alter the thrust of the Bill at all. It would not change the Bill but it would add an element in circumstances where it is impossible to force the company in Britain, America or Europe to register as lobbyists. At least we could capture the fact that Irish officials would have been lobbied while abroad. It would be useful information and I do not see why the Minister should be so obdurately against it. He has the numbers for any vote in the House.