Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like clarification. A similar answer was given in terms of the earlier piece when the focus was laid on the phrase "laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas". I have made it clear that that is not the core point. Does the Minister agree that records in regard to with whom the commission consults should be kept? I am speaking about those with whom the commission consults in the general sense and also specifically with whom it is consulting in regard to the advice it may give in regard to legislation which will potentially have a significant impact. The question of whether those records are laid and who they might be laid before is only one part of it. The core issue here is the principle that records of consultations should be kept and that there should be a note in that regard.

I do not like to name companies and I do not want to do so in respect of the Chamber, but there are companies who we know may have a very strong interest in regard to legislation that may come through Ireland and on which a Minister may seek advice from the commission. If the commission is meeting with a company who may be affected by legislation, which company may be giving advice to the Minister in respect of that legislation, it is appropriate and important that a record would be kept of that and that the public would be able to be aware of it. That is core to public confidence in the commission. The public must be confident that the Minister in receiving the advice of the commission is not influenced in a way that it is not aware of. I do not want to impugn the intentions of the commission or how it operates but it is important that it be transparent and be seen to be transparent and that there be clear records of how it does its work. That is part of the public confidence piece.

Leaving aside the question of what may be laid in the Oireachtas Library, is the question of the keeping of records in regard to with whom the commission consults at least a point that the Government recognises as being appropriate?