Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As with many enactments, it was described as intrusive, overarching and the actions of a nanny state when it affected certain people but proper, thorough and correct when it affected everybody else. The Ethics in Public Office Act and the freedom of information legislation gives insight into any improper activities that might occur. I want to make this as practical as I can for the reasons I outlined. One cannot parse what some believe as unacceptable lobbying and others would see as casual discussions to be excluded. The definition of lobbying is set out and all such conversations are captured. That is the simple way in which the law is set out. One cannot argue that acts which somebody regards as unacceptable must be reported but everything else is excluded. We do not have a definition to be captured by that.

This is groundbreaking legislation and best-in-class by international comparison. That is acknowledged. I ask Senators to allow it be enacted and take its course, and if we need to strengthen it in future, we can do so. If we get what is captured by this Bill on the Statute Book and in effect, we will have made an extraordinary advance on where we are now.