However, RTE became uncomfortable with Dunlop's continued presence on the programme after it became known that he would be giving evidence to the Flood tribunal. The tribunal will be questioning Dunlop about his involvement with property developers Tom Gilmartin and Owen O'Callaghan over the development of the Quarryvale site in west Dublin.

This is confirmation, if any was needed, that it is better to have all interests out in the open for everybody to see.

While there are many others in the lobbying business, it just so happens that this group has a higher media visibility because of their previous political incarnations. And, without doubt, their past existence gives them access to people and places they would otherwise have to join a queue to get near.

But, unlike in countries such as the United Kingdom, there is no period of decontamination for people who leave Irish political life or the public service before they can take up a position as a lobbyist.

These people have had insider access to the corridors of power. They have been privy to sensitive information. And then with a resignation letter and a whole new set of business cards they can be on the other side of the fence, cajoling their erstwhile political and public service colleagues to alter policy.

Since Bertie Ahern became Taoiseach in June 1997 two of his most senior advisers have departed his office for the obviously lucrative world of lobbying. One day a government adviser, the next, a lobbyist of that same government.

Yet, for better or worse, these lobbyists have become a feature of our system of parliamentary democracy. And they have become increasingly important in the policy-making process.

As Fine Gael's Senator Maurice Manning told the Seanad earlier this year, these self-styled public affairs consultants have become such a regular feature that, when a major Oireachtas committee is meeting, access to the committee room becomes difficult "because of the serried ranks of lobbyists pushing a particular case".

Indeed, this observation was borne out during the DIRT inquiry of the Public Accounts Committee. RTE presenter and ACC lobbyist Gallagher was not the only former political adviser lurking in the environs of Kildare House as their clients from the financial sector were being put through their paces by the committee chairman, Jim Mitchell, and his colleagues.

The public has a right to know who is lobbying the Government, Oireachtas members and public servants to change legislation and to have certain decisions made and even reversed.

Earlier this year, the Taoiseach's long-time political adviser, Paddy Duffy, was forced to resign after it was revealed he was a director of Dillon Consultants while still working in Government Buildings. At that time, Bertie Ahern told the Dail that "the whole area requires deeper reflection and debate".

However, the Government still shot down a Labour Party Bill to regulate lobbyists, without any indication that it has its own plans to introduce similar legislation. That Bill sought to get paid lobbyists, who are employed to influence the public policy-making process, to register their activities with the Public Offices Commission.

Such regulation would provide the public with information on just who these lobbyists are, who they work for and what they are trying to achieve.

It has been clearly demonstrated at the McCracken, Moriarty and Flood tribunals that business donations can leave the political system vulnerable to corruption. The introduction of a register of lobbyists requiring the declaration of the clients paying lobbyists like Finlay, Gallagher and Dunlop would be a start. This could mirror the requirements which members of the Oireachtas must adhere to under the Ethics Act.

Another advance for the transparency process would come with a decontamination period before those in the paid employment of government can depart for the lobbying profession.

RTE should also re-examine its statutory obligations in relation to political and current affairs output so as not to be acting as a quasi-advertiser for certain lobbyists and their unknown clients.

The Later with Finlay and Gallagher programme gives way on Network 2 next Thursday night to the MTV Music Awards. Perhaps it is time to start the lobby to make that particular situation a permanent one. And in public, of course.