New The Uber Files: State’s official register points to intensive lobbying by US cab-hailing giant between 2014 and 2017 but does not show full extent of government contacts disclosed in private files
Neither is there any mention in the official logs of Uber’s direct engagements with then taoiseach Enda Kenny, which feature in the US company’s private records. Kenny was seen by some in Uber as a political leader who mattered, and potentially influential with his centre-right EU counterparts as the company tried to make inroads in European markets.
In addition, the system does not impose any requirement on designated public officials to register, submit returns or validate information in returns submitted by lobbyists.The law still requires lobbyists to register activity for their clients that include communications on the initiation, development or modification of any public policy or programme. The same applies to communications on the preparation or amendment of any law.
Although Uber’s note on the meeting with the taoiseach said the agenda “was provided to Kenny’s office in advance”, the company does not appear from filings on Sipo’sBut did a meeting in Switzerland with the taoiseach fall within scope of the law? On such questions, thewebsite is clear enough. “The act makes no distinctions regarding where the communication takes place,” said a question-and-answer reply on whether the law applies to communications outside Ireland.
In January 2016, Moran’s company Red House Hill International declared he lobbied seven people for Uber in September-December 2015. They included Donohoe, then minister for transport; his special adviser Stephen Lynam; and McDowell, Kenny’s adviser. Four Limerick City and County Council officials were also lobbied: Conn Murray; Pat Daly; Kieran Lehane and Caroline Curley.
Still, Uber itself said in a separate filing to the register that it lobbied Noonan in that period, and also Donohoe, Lynam and minister for education Richard Bruton. That Uber filing on January 21st, 2016, specifically said Moran carried out lobbying on the company’s behalf related to that return. That log also cited discussions with five Department of Finance officials, including John Moran’s successor as secretary general Derek Moran, and also with Department of Arts chief Seosamh Ó hÁghmaillLimerick council officials, Green TD Eamon Ryan, and Dooley of Fianna Fáil. The intended results were: “Keeping officials informed for better economic planning for Ireland following on my time at [the Department] of Finance”.
Separate Uber files point to Mark MacGann’s anticipated engagements with senior government figures. One October 2015 record quotes the head of public policy for Uber in Europe as follows: “Am in Dublin early next for meetings with Kenny, Noonan, Donohue and Varadkar.” It is unclear whether such meetings took place.
Mr Donohoe’s spokesman and the Fine Gael party said, in similar statements in reply to questions, that lobbying was “an important part of the democratic process as it allows a huge diversity of issues to be raised directly with the government”. In a statement, Uber said it continued to have “a transparent and constructive relationship” with the National Transport Authority “who have not raised any issues directly with us about how we have engaged with them or their policymakers”.
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