Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am suggesting this minor technical amendment to provide clarity around the provision of section 12(4)(f). Section 12(4) of the Bill details the information lobbyists must supply in the returns to the registrar on a tri-annual basis - that is, every four months. Section 12(4)(f) states that the lobbyists must include in the returns "the name of each person who is or has been a designated public official employed by, or providing services to, the registered person who was engaged in carrying on lobbying activities". The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has advised that in order to clarify that this provision applies whether that person was a designated official either before or after the passing of the Act, a minor technical amendment should be made, as proposed in this amendment.