Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 43:

In page 22, line 11, to delete "paragraph (a), (e)or (f)of".

We do not agree that Deputies, Senators, MEPs and councillors should be exempt from these restrictions and the requirement to obtain pre-authorisation by way of application to SIPO if they want to take up employment as a lobbyist within two years of leaving public office. They can possess influence and inside knowledge that may not be in the public interest to make available, particularly to private commercial interests which may become their clients.

With regard to amendments Nos. 44 and 45, we can see no valid reason for the Minister's proposed shorter cooling-off period during which time the law should impose restrictions on post-term employment as a lobbyist, meaning that SIPO would require former public officials to make an application and secure its pre-authorisation before taking up such employment. We concur with the opinion of most commentators, that a two-year period provides a much safer margin to protect the public from influence peddling for hire and is not onerous. This longer period is especially reasonable given that the Bill does not impose an absolute prohibition but rather makes provision for SIPO's conditional or unconditional consent in appropriate cases, as set out in section 22(5).