Can anyone give me examples of lobbying whereby vested interests have been rewarded

[bobbysands81]

at the expense of the taxpayer?

I'm just interested to see how much lobbying is out there where a small group lobby for change, which benefits them only, at the expense of the taxpayer.

Does it really happen and, if it does, how do politicians get away with it?

[Harmonica]

The government brought in changes where off licences can not sell past 10pm. They also brought in changes to closing times in Dublin for nite clubs. Both of these changes only benefited one group - Vintbers! We all know they have a strong lobby.

[Lloyd-Apjohn]

Benchmarking
NAMA
AIB & ICC
All the housing estates jerry built
The public sector
The lack of any accountability in any section of Irish life
Corrupt politicians
The lack of accountability in any tribunal
The cost of the tribunals

There's a few to get you going ...

[Furze]

And the winner is NAMA

[Mitsui]

The fact that I can't buy a bottle of wine in a shop on a whim after 10pm is a small thing but it always seems very revealing to me of just how "far" we've come since the 1950s, or at least how "far" the government's view of us has come.

[orbit]

at the expense of the taxpayer?

I'm just interested to see how much lobbying is out there where a small group lobby for change, which benefits them only, at the expense of the taxpayer.

Does it really happen and, if it does, how do politicians get away with it?

The Eircom ESOT successfully lobbied the government to change the law, which benefited them, at the expense of the taxpayer.

Here was a Dail debate, where the Greens were asking hard questions about it. Ah, those were the days ...

[Delusional or careerist?]

We don't have vested interests or lobbyists we have Social Partnership. And every round of social partnership benefitted public sector workers over net tax payers (ie private sector paye workers). The total cost is far more than nama.

Publicans killed off michael mcdowells idea of cafe bars. The cost to the taxpayer was more garda spending.

One could say that the manner in which the Catholic Church negotiated its indemnity deal could be classed as lobbying. But really it was political capitulation, and incompetance by the State.

Pharmaceuticals would lobby to have non-generic drugs proscribed generally. Guess what the result is?

The moriarty tribunal can decide on denis o'brien's approach to the second mobile licence. Lobbying could be a term for it.

Private sector Pensions are subsidized by the taxpayer through very generous tax breaks. How did that come about?

Surely no new road was ever diverted to ensure particular lands were sold at a higher price?

Minimum use contracts eg incineration or toll roads.

Development plans rezoning and s.4 motions. Just part of the system.

[bobbysands81]

Some good stuff here folks, thanks.

Anyone want to add any more please feel free.