A former government advisor was found to be in breach of lobbying laws after they began working without consent with a company which had lobbied their former department.

The Irish Farmers Association and employers’ group, Ibec, are the country’s most prolific lobbyists according to the first official record of political lobbying activities.

Several elected councillors agreed to lobby on behalf of a dummy company set up by RTÉ in return for cash or the promise of cash.

Anyone lobbying a State official on public policy matters is now legally required to provide comprehensive details of their activities to a publicly accessible register.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Political lobbying and funding political parties are two sides of the same coin. They are about trying to ensure that a certain view shapes Government decisions and legislation.