Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Feighan on inviting to this Chamber, as opposed to the separate Seanad Brexit committee, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. I mentioned previously that this is absolutely a fitting stage for foreign heads of state to address the Irish people. Only this week we saw the Croatian President, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi, visiting the country. There have been some lovely engagements but she has not had the opportunity to engage with the Irish people or their representatives in an appropriate manner. This Chamber would be such a setting and I fully agree with Senator Feighan's earlier remarks in that regard.

The regulation of lobbying legislation is under review and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, to debate that review in this House. There is a glaring oversight in the Act, as there is a need to regulate better for overseas lobbying of the Irish Government and Ministers, especially when our Ministers spend so much time in Brussels, Strasbourg and across the European Union. There is no requirement for lobbyists to register any lobbying activity if it is carried out outside the jurisdiction of Ireland. It is a glaring anomaly that is open to abuse. I hope it has not yet been abused but I ask the Leader to bring in the Minister as a matter of urgency to debate this very important review.