Alcohol lobbying access and register
The Leader agreed with Gavan on honest debate about alcohol labelling and criticised lobbying tactics, including his own party's. He distinguished between the register of lobbying and the separate issue of lobbyists' access within the Oireachtas compound, which he said might merit further discussion.
I agree with Senator Gavan that we have to have an absolutely honest debate on alcohol, and I support him on the issue of labelling. Labelling is an important part of raising consciousness on issues such as alcohol. I agree that we cannot allow a particular segment of this debate to be allowed to dominate. The Senator spoke very strongly on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and was part of the deliberation.
I am smiling because lobbying takes many different paths, and his own party is quite good at using the audiovisual room to lobby and advocate, as is its right. Senator Devine should not get cross. I said that it is her party's right, but it is a form of lobbying. The drinks industry uses a different form of lobbying. It takes place every day and we, as Members of the Oireachtas, are lobbied with regard to every part of what we do. That is part of the job.
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I agree with Senator Gavan that we should call lobbying out for what it is. It is a particular group or political party trying to influence, dominate or lead to changes in legislation or to effect change.
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Yes and the Senator and his party use the audiovisual room with different groups every day or week as well.
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We do not use it to court big business.
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There is always going to be lobbying, but we should always understand and stand up for what we believe in, and I share his view completely on that. It is important that the register is kept, as per the Lobbying Act, and perhaps is looked at. The point Senator Gavan raised, which perhaps is more suitable for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, or the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, is the question of when lobbyists are allowed to enter and interact with Members within the compound that is the Houses of the Oireachtas. That is a different matter and perhaps we should have a conversation about it in a different forum.
Senator McFadden, like Senator Conway, welcomed the decision of the Government to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She also spoke about Iarnród Éireann and the issue of four hours notice versus 24 hours notice. I saw the clip on the news, and it is extraordinary that a person with a disability has to apply four hours ahead of travelling. It is discommoding to them, as citizens and as individuals, and they have a right, in my opinion, to be able to access buses or trains regularly. I would be happy to have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to the House.
I gave Senator Humphreys his reply as part of the answer on complex needs.
I am not sure whether Senator Norris wants a debate on the salaries of CEOs or what he was looking for.