I don't have much more to add in condemnation that hasn't already been said, but one aspect I found very worrying about #GolfGate is the quasi-institutionalisation of access by lobbyists to Ministers, politicians and judges

(THREAD)

The event was clearly not about golf or dinner (some guests do not play golf and others stated that they did not expect there to be a meal)

There were several prominent lobbyists on the guest list although they have largely avoided the public gaze.

Brian Hayes, head of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland, for example, attended, and also brought three guests – who were these people?

I see from http://lobbying.ie  that none of these lobbyists have made returns re attendance at this event. They all have until 21/09 – I’ll check again then.

It seems highly unlikely that in a room full of politicians and lobbyists that no “relevant matters” were raised.

This is particularly disappointing given the work done to strengthen Ireland’s lobbying laws. In particular, @BrendanHowlin did great work to bring lobbying into the public sphere with the Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014. This event undermines that. https://www.thejournal.ie/new-lobbying-law-1528854-Jun2014/

I’m very glad that the CC has asked for the Golf Society to be disbanded. It appears that many TDs/Sens weren’t even aware it existed, and that it operated independently from the Oireachtas.

A parting question: do other societies similar to this exist within the Oireachtas?