Background

A report compiled by Maynooth University Social Science Institute (MUSSI) outlines growing global concern about the expansion of corporate power and its implications for democracy, public policy, and social well-being.1 Increasingly, large corporations exert significant influence over public institutions and policy-making, often shaping them to serve private profit rather than the public good. This trend is closely linked to extreme wealth concentration; the richest 1% own more wealth than much of the global population, and a substantial share of that wealth is embedded in corporate structures. Many of the world’s largest corporations are controlled or heavily influenced by billionaires, thus reinforcing their ability to shape political and economic priorities.

While supporters argue that corporations drive innovation, employment, and economic growth, the report highlights a growing disconnect between rising corporate profits and worsening global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and economic insecurity. This raises concerns about the societal risks of allowing wealth and power to accumulate in the hands of a small corporate elite.

In Ireland, these dynamics are particularly pronounced due to the country’s long-standing reliance on foreign direct investment. Multinational corporations are widely seen as central to Ireland’s economic success, contributing significantly to jobs, tax revenue, and growth. As a result, they hold substantial political influence and public legitimacy. Over time, this has fostered a strongly pro-business policy environment, with corporate-friendly approaches embedded across government institutions and policy discourse.

However, this economic model has also contributed to imbalances. Decades of underinvestment in public services and community infrastructure have coincided with growing social and economic pressures, environmental challenges, and dissatisfaction with perceived government prioritisation of corporate interests over public needs. Despite these risks, corporations have largely maintained their influence, acting as key advisors, technical experts, and research partners within policy-making processes, thus further strengthening their position.

The report addresses a gap in comprehensive analysis of corporate power in Ireland by mapping how corporations influence policy and economic priorities, drawing on a wide range of sources including advocacy reports, journalism, and policy analyses to examine corporate influence across multiple sectors, including:

• Big tech and data
• Pharmaceuticals and health
• Farming and agriculture
• Food and drink
• Banking and financial
• Construction and housing
• Education and research
• Energy, fossil fuels, and mineral extraction
• Gambling
• Military
• Plastics

For the purposes of this Drugnet article, we focus on just the food and drink sector.

Food and drink

The food, drink, and alcohol sectors play a significant role in driving non-communicable diseases, yet industries continue to prioritise profit by promoting unhealthy products. The WHO recommends effective public health measures such as taxation, advertising restrictions, and limits on availability, but their implementation in Ireland and across Europe has been limited, largely due to industry opposition.

Research shows that industry actors actively weaken public health measures through lobbying, framing strategies, and funding biased research. For example, studies funded by the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) industry are far more likely to report no link between consumption and health harms. Corporations also build alliances with health organisations and promote narratives that emphasise personal responsibility, positioning themselves as part of the solution rather than contributors to the problem. In Ireland, lobbying has influenced policy decisions such as the reduced VAT rate for hospitality, which primarily increased industry profits without lowering prices or benefitting workers.

Alcohol use and related harms continue to represent a significant public health challenge in Ireland. Government attempts to implement evidence-based population-level measures have consistently been challenged by the alcohol industry, which claims that its commercial goals align with promoting ‘responsible drinking’ and advocate for education-based approaches despite being largely ineffective. Public health advocates argue that these initiatives mainly serve to improve the industry’s image rather than reduce alcohol-related harm. Industry involvement in policy-making bodies has created conflicts of interest, delaying and weakening the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.

Conclusion

Overall, corporate lobbying has significant societal and environmental consequences, including weakened public health protections. This influence undermines evidence-based policy-making and prioritises economic interests over population health.

1    Stephens JC, McSharry Daly C, Ferrari E, Reilly L and Ó Maonaigh C (2026) Corporate Power in Ireland: A Review. Dublin: Maynooth University.