What is a political lobbyist and what do they do?
Proposals have been set out in the Dáil to draw up legislation to regulate political lobbying.
They hang out in the corridors of power, moving and shaking with the big boys of politics.
Gary Murphy, of the Politics Department at Dublin City University, says the role of the lobbyist is to gain access to the political decision making process at various levels.
All sorts of groups, including employers' representatives IBEC, farmers' representatives at the IFA, and young peoples' organisations want to have their voices heard. James Doorley, President of the National Youth Council, says that the organisation seeks to represent the views of young people. Their work involves monitoring legislation and proposing policy documents to make sure that the voice of young people is heard by politicians.
The role of political lobbyists is in the spotlight following the Frank Dunlop revelations. He claims he acted for big business by offering money to councillors in Dublin to gain favour. There are now calls for greater regulation of the role of the lobbyists.
Labour Party leader Ruarí Quinn says that TDs and councillors need to have sufficient information to be able to separate the message from the messenger.
Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern outlined his support for the establishment of a committee to examine the role of the lobbyist.
Gary Murphy says that many former senior civil servants, press secretaries and politicians have set themselves up as lobbyists. It is difficult to see how a register of lobbyists would work in practice.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 19 April 2000. The reporter is Anthony Murnane.
