The Department’s tender for a single supplier of cattle tags was brought down last year by a twin attack from Galway firm Cormac and Swiss-based Datamars.

Cormac submitted to the Department legal advice it had obtained that cast doubt on the fairness of the tender.

Datamars took a more softly softly approach, I now see. PR firm MKC Consultants disclosed on www.lobbying.ie that it lobbied TDs last summer on Datamars’ behalf, meeting Fianna Fáil agricultural spokesperson Charlie McConalogue, Sinn Féin agricultural spokesperson Martin Kenny, his party colleague Martin Ferris, Labour big name Willie Penrose and Fine Gael TD Pat Deering – chair of the Oireachtas Agricultural Commmittee.

There on the day was political big beast Gerry Howlin, who was special advisor to former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

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Third tag company to get approval