Vol. 557 No. 1
154 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of lobby groups or public relations firms she or her Department has met with to discuss issues of impending legislation since the formation of the Government; the issues on which they lobbied; if this resulted in changes or amendments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21641/02]
With regard to the draft Companies (Audit and Accountancy) Bill, 2002, officials of my Department met the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies – Ireland. The purpose of the meeting was to consult and obtain the expert advice of the committee on that element of the draft Bill relating to disciplinary procedures for prescribed accountancy bodies. On foot of that meeting, a number of amendments to the draft relating to these procedures are being considered.
In two other instances, proposals in relation to the draft Bill were raised in the course of meetings organised in a more general context. In one such meeting with me and my officials, the Financial Services Industry Association raised concerns about the application to various structures of the auditing related requirements in the draft legislation. This matter is currently under consideration. In the other case, Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, and Departmental officials met representatives of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland. The issue of relevance to the draft legislation related to the question of statutory protection for the term "accountant". The matter is currently under consideration.
I recently met members of the Irish Bankers Federation to discuss, among other things, issues arising from the forthcoming Irish financial services regulatory authority legislation, which is being introduced by the Minister for Finance. No changes were made to the draft legislation arising from this meeting.
The Deputy will appreciate that in the case of primary and secondary legislation where matters of a highly technical and complex nature arise, or where matters of social partnership are involved, there is frequently a need to obtain advice from a variety of sources.
My officials in the discharge of their day to day duties have regular contact with a range of stakeholders and representative groups who may express views and concerns on matters which may inform the overall legislative process.
