Business Post editor Daniel McConnell has defended his decision not to tell readers a contributor in the paper calling for Ireland to develop its “defence sector” works for a British arms consultancy.
“We do not, and will not, publish exhaustive career histories alongside every opinion piece,” McConnell told The Ditch, speaking about this weekend's piece titled “Developing a defence sector would be good for Ireland politically and economically,” written by Stephen J Fallon, who works for a consultancy that asks on its website, in all caps, “READY TO COMPETE MORE SERIOUSLY IN THE UK DEFENCE MARKET?”
“We commission contributors because they have real-world expertise,” said McConnell, who declined to comment on whether his alleged negotiations to take up a government press secretary role have influenced his editorial policies.
“This line of insinuation,” he said about The Ditch’s questions, “doesn’t stand up.”
‘Plenty of people … are more than happy to be lickspittles for the powerful’
Daniel McConnell’s Business Post this weekend published an opinion piece arguing Ireland should invest part of its increased defence budget in “counter-UAV defence” and seek to create a defence industrial base.
Stephen J Fallon wrote the article and is described at the bottom as a “consultant and independent researcher”.
His short bio didn’t acknowledge his role with Strategical – a consultancy that’s a “specialist advisory and professional development firm dedicated to the UK defence market”.
Asked by The Ditch why the paper he edits didn’t disclose this conflict of interest – and why lobbyists regularly publish comment pieces in the Business Post without mention of their lobbying – McConnell said the paper commissions contributors because of their experience.
“That often includes advisory or commercial work. This experience is precisely what makes their analysis informed,” he said.
British company Strategical advertises to prospective clients that it has “The Strategical Playbook”, a “45,000-word practitioner methodology covering every dimension of structured business winning in the UK defence market".
It was developed, it says, “from direct experience running and advising on major UK defence campaigns, valued in aggregate at over £1 billion.”
Business Post readers weren’t told about Fallon’s senior associate role at Strategical.
The Ditch identified several other instances when lobbyists contributed to the Business Post without the paper disclosing their lobbying.
Lucinda Creighton, Vulcan Consulting CEO, frequently contributes, writing about areas her firm operates in – including security and defence.
“It is easy – and lazy – to label those who are concerned about our obvious security exposure as warmongers and hawks,” she wrote, in a piece published in November. “In fact, they are the responsible adults in the room.” Her links to the defence industry were not mentioned.
Her lobbying wasn’t mentioned.
Another regular Business Post contributor is Colm Lauder, director of Lingard Capital Advisers – offering services to companies involved in real estate and construction – and founder of Lauder Teacher, which offers communications services to bankers and property developers.
Lauder regularly writes about housing for the Business Post without the paper telling readers about his other roles.
This month, discussing government’s recent housing reforms that resulted in increased evictions, Lauder said that the measures may still leave rents too low to attract international investment.
“If periodic alignment with market rent is to function as intended, the evidence base must reflect current transactions,” he wrote, in a piece published 6 March. His roles helping property and real estate clients were not disclosed to readers.
Daniel McConnell has previously described admiring journalists who are “prepared to stand out from the crowd and be the pesky stone in the shoe of those on high,” while criticising those he characterised as too close to power.
“There are plenty of people who are more than happy to be lickspittles for the powerful in our industry and take joy in having their bellies tickled by government ministers,” he told Eolas in 2023.
McConnell stood over his decisions not to publish details of his contributors’ lobbying and consultancy work.
“Where a direct and material conflict arises in a specific article, we expect disclosure,” he said, adding, “The contributor in question was clearly identified as a consultant and independent researcher.
“Contributors are published for their experience and insight. Opinion is clearly labelled, rigorously edited, and not a vehicle for undisclosed lobbying. Editorial control always rests with us. Our ability to hold power to account is demonstrated in our journalism, not undermined by publishing informed commentary. The two are distinct and operate to different standards, as in any serious publication.
“Editorial decisions are governed by independence and editorial judgement, nothing else,” he said.
