In February 2019 political correspondent Hugh O’Connell wrote a piece about a trend that had “raised concerns” of a “brain drain”: Fine Gael  hiring half a dozen journalists as special advisers in 18 months – a "brain drain", wrote O'Connell.

Senior Department of Defence officials discussed establishing quarterly meetings with arms industry lobbyists – with internal records showing talks about “effective communications” between both parties ahead of the publication of an EU defence policy paper.

A deal was made to sell a British development site owned by Michael Lowry the same month the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) questioned the independent TD at a garda station last year.

Lobbyists for international arms manufacturers organised a secret meeting with Department of Defence officials at a Dún Laoghaire hotel – and instructed attendees to maintain secrecy about it.

A “Michael Lowrey” – with an E – took ownership of a new home before selling to independent TD Michael Lowry’s daughter for €50,000. Lowry’s refrigeration company later bought the house from his daughter for €290,000 and remains the property's current owner.