Ex-finance chief adviser lobbies former colleagues in Coalition

He resigned as Mr Donohoe’s adviser last June and later founded his own consultancy firm Tyrconnell Strategy. By law, special advisers, as well as former government ministers and senior public officials, must observe a one-year “cooling-off” period after they leave office when they cannot engage in lobbying.

However, Sipo can grant an exemption where it considers it would not negatively affect the public interest. Mr Brophy was told last September it would waive the remaining nine months subject to certain undertakings, including he would not lobby the Department of Finance or anyone who worked there in the previous year until June 2022.

Under legislation introduced seven years ago, lobbyists must provide details every four months of the politicians and state officials they have engaged with and on what issues.

The latest records show Mr Brophy lobbied Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s economic adviser Alan Ahearne, Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath’s adviser Kevin Barrett, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien’s adviser Kevin Dillon and Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin last year on behalf of Beakonshaw Limited, a property firm, about a rent-to-own proposal.

He also approached the Taoiseach’s chief of staff Deirdre Gillane and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan’s special adviser Paul Kenny seeking meetings on behalf of an offshore wind farm company, Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta, at the COP 26 summit in Glasgow last November.

Mr Brophy lobbied Mr Kenny on two other occasions, once on behalf of Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta again, to discuss obtaining an amendment to the Maritime Area Planning Bill. He also lobbied Green Party TD and Oireachtas Housing Committee chair Steven Matthews, Fine Gael Senator Seán Kyne and Road Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughton’s adviser Paul Melia.

Mr Brophy also lobbied Mr Kenny, who advises the Green Party leader on energy and environment matters, on behalf of natural gas producer Nephin Energy seeking a meeting to discuss licensing terms.

He also lobbied Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s chief of staff Brian Murphy on behalf of CluneTech, a collection of corporate financial solutions companies, to discuss the Succeed in Ireland programme which aims to use the Irish diaspora to attract foreign direct investment. He lobbied another of the Tánaiste’s aides, special adviser Matthew Lynch, on behalf of TechIreland.

Mr Brophy’s activities extended to the Department of Agriculture, contacting minister Charlie McConalogue’s special adviser Patrick Donohoe by phone and email on behalf of Kellogg’s seeking a potential exemption from official border controls under an EU directive for composite breakfast cereal products.

Mr Brophy told the Sunday Independent: “My firm Tyrconnell Strategy helps good businesses to understand policy and explain their plans to government and opposition.”

In its most recent report on lobbying, Sipo said eight former special advisers to the Government sought a waiver or reduction in 2020.

The commission also noted two instances where it became aware of former public officials who it felt should have sought consent to take up a particular employment but did not.

There was controversy in September 2020 when former junior finance minister Michael D’Arcy resigned from the Seanad to become chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Managers without seeking Sipo clearance.

Legislative changes were agreed last summer making it an offence for people not to obtain consent.