Sevenfold increase in lobbying by oil and gas firms last year

Oil and gas companies stepped up their lobbying efforts significantly last year, according to the lobbying register.

The sector made seven times more returns in 2018 than in 2017.

The majority of lobbying returns relating to oil and gas interests were completed by the Irish Offshore Operator Association (IOOA), the industry representative body for offshore oil and gas exploration companies in Ireland.

The IOOA recently appointed former Fianna Fáil government adviser Mandy Johnston ...