Lobbying Reform
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-17
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Chris Andrews (SF), Labour Panel

I am very concerned by the level of lobbying at EU level and how decisions are all too often being made behind closed doors without any real democratic input or transparency. Those with money should not be the ones who write our laws and regulations and I find it very disappointing that the Irish Government is unwilling to stand up for workers' rights and the environment when it goes against corporate interests.
It is interesting that the Minister has met Hanover Communications. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the Minister has met with ExxonMobil or Enterprise Mobility in regard to the omnibus legislation? It is about ensuring that the giant multinationals are held to account, that there is transparency, that the lobbying they undertake is clear and that people are aware of what lobbying they are doing and who they are doing it with. It is disappointing that the Government is willing to engage with the pressure from these multinationals and support them.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-17