Lobbying disclosures: IFA says farmers unjustly blamed for Waterford river pollution; Chamber of Commerce courts EU
Bunmahon beach and the river Mahon. Photo: Alexander Redfern
The Irish Farming Association (IFA) wrote to Waterford City and County Council requesting to meet urgently “to get the full facts” surrounding the pollution of River Mahon being attributed to farmers.
Every four months, lobbying groups must disclose their activities under Irish law.
The IFA have long been considered the most prolific lobbying force in Ireland- with political opposition to Mercosur case in point- but disclosures released on January 20 show they also narrow in on local issues.
In Waterford, the farming group lobbied current Waterford Council Chief Executive Sean McKeown and his predecessor Michael Walsh through a series of emails, informal communications and one designated meeting.
The IFA said pollution of the Comeragh Mountain’s River Mahon and its estuary was attributed to agriculture.
“IFA understand that this was challenged, and the Council accepted that there was no evidence to support this classification,” the association wrote in its lobbying disclosures.
The IFA sought “to emphasise that agriculture seems to have been named as the cause of poor water quality by default."
“The IFA and its members are fully committed to improving water quality, and IFA members in the Mahon area and beyond have already taken significant actions on their farms," it said in its disclosure.
“To ensure that any instances where failed bathing water results were attributed to agricultural diffuse pollution without supporting evidence are reviewed and corrected where necessary.”
Waterford council was also lobbied by both of the county’s chambers of commerce.
Correspondence was sent to the council asking to freeze commercial rates on businesses before the councillors voted in their 2026 budget that raised rates by 3.5%.
Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber e-mailed West Waterford councillors, Waterford TDs, Senator Joe Conway and various Government ministers requesting a revised approach to rental policy.
The Chamber requested that a three-year security model be considered as opposed to the six-year tenancies of minimum duration (that come into effect after six months) applied to all new tenancies from 1 March 2026.
Waterford Chamber of Commerce sent an email to Waterford TD John Cummins and Mary Butler, as well as the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, asking them to consider hosting some of Ireland’s 26 EU Presidency meetings in Waterford.
The chamber also called on the council’s executive to consider parking fee concessions over the Christmas period.
The disclosures show clear-cut examples of the effect lobbying can have on concrete policy.
On Tuesday, January 21st, records were filed that detailed communications between the National Youth Centre for Mental Health and Director of Services for Waterford council, Ivan Grimes, in identifying a suitable property for a Jigsaw service.
Fianna Fáil councillor and Metropolitan Mayor Adam Wyse received requests from the coalition ‘Mental Health Reform’ asking to speak at an event to highlight the contribution of mental health charities in the South East.
The Order of Malta contacted Fine Gael councillor Lola O’Sullivan to provide grant aid to fix the organisation’s roof in Tramore.
Waterford TDs were lobbied across a range of areas, largely relating to their own areas of expertise.
Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler TD saw communications from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association that sought “to ensure the adoption of key principles in the restructuring of mental health services including a whole system approach.”
Minister Butler also met with Waterford Intellectual Disability Association in relation to “funding deficits” for the organisation.
Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins TD was lobbied by groups like Ibec, Cork Chamber and the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI).
An opaque lobbyist called the ‘Godland Group’ contacted Minister Cummins about “a new alternative, debt-free mortgage model” and a proposal that would bring in “approximately €50–60 billion in foreign direct investment to support the delivery of c.350,000 affordable, sustainable homes.”
The group held a virtual meeting with Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin on July 9 2025.
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane TD received contacts from the Irish Voluntary Healthcare Association, Irish Heart Foundation, Alcohol Action Ireland and Pfizer.
Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness, who chairs the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, was lobbied by Irish Fish Producers Organisations Ltd and Irish-language education activists Gaeloideachas.
