From top: Junior minister at the Department of State, Finian McGrath; Former Labour Party Senator Lorraine Higgins, now a lobbyist with MKC Communications
Thank you Genomics Medicine Ireland for the visit to your campus today in Cherrywood. @GenomicsMed is leading fantastic research studies across Ireland examining the relationship between genetics, health and disease. pic.twitter.com/auPJI9EU03
— Finian McGrath (@FinianMcGrathTD) June 20, 2019
June 20, 2019.
Meanwhile…
This is why ex-politicians are hot property in the PR and lobbying industries. It’s also why they should be banned from those industries for several years after they lose their seat or step down. We’re becoming more and more Americanized. pic.twitter.com/eJ2Labh3gZ
— David Gibney (@davegibney) August 14, 2019
They can’t help it.
Good times.
Previously: Former top civil servant joins MKC Communications
“This is why ex-politicians are hot property in the PR and lobbying industries. It’s also why they should be banned from those industries for several years after they lose their seat or step down”
It’s also why they should be banned from news and current affairs programmes where they are wheeled out as independent commentators, when, in fact, they are being paid handsomely to promote an interest or to undermine a rival interest.
News and current affairs programmes can get a rep from one of these lobbying companies – who will speak well and articulately, won’t libel anyone, has media training and won’t cost you a penny – at the drop of a hat.
Marian, The TV3 Tonight Show, Prime Time are the worst offenders.
You forgot to include the SBP themselves
but then, most people have some conflicts, but as long as it’s declared – either in a disclosure or a register
then the man on the street is then in a position to form their own opinion based on all the facts
I suspect a number of contributors / commentators here have a number of undisclosed conflicts, that is how most forums work anyway.
If anyone’s interested – because I know this particular area in one of the most boring Subjects in any business or accountancy course, but it is a particular field of mine, here’s something that might help https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-conflict-vanessa-foran-?articleId=6468049111798022144#comments-6468049111798022144&trk=public_profile_post
You’re right of course, V and the SBP is probably the worst offender at present for promoting interests [but, they’re all at it to some extent].
But still, there’s still something particularly nefarious about wheeling a PR person on as an independent commentator on the #2 most listened to RTE radio prog, the #1 (frequently) TV3 programme after soaps or on one of the Top #5 most viewed RTE programmes.
Or even a member of the Board of Directors………………..
Ah look what’s the point
its all been going on for decades
in every walk of life
lets be honest about it
It’s only since FOI and the Internet has anyone actually given it (conflict of interest, bias, influence etc) a second thought
And even then its just talking heads, like the likes of me, cribbing
We achieved nothing
Nothing changes,
Its still a mans jobs for the boys and their special interests world
And that’s a fact
Lobbying is a dirty dirty business.
Even when it is declared (often it is not), it rarely is for the public good. Big corporations do just dandy from it, however.
They (Lobbyists) must be so proud of their achievements.
Take a bow Tom Parlon
You too Mr Hayes