News
Catch up on what we’re working on, what’s changing in public affairs, and what it all means.
Sharing documents on the website
A demo article showing the new ways to add PDFs to the website.
Dispatches from Birmingham: why engaging with the Conservatives still matters
Conservative Leader, Kemi Badenoch ended the 2026 Conservative Party Conference with an unusual comparison of Conservatives to Marks & Spencer. Our team analyses why it matters to businesses deciding where to invest their political engagement.
Budget 2027: What this means for businesses?
Budget 2027 brings some relief for businesses, but they stop short of a sweeping package of enterprise support. The Fenton Fitzwilliam team breaks down today's announcement and what this means for key sectors.
A new direction for Labour: Engaging with a Burnham government
Labour's conference in Liverpool offered the clearest signal yet of the new government's direction. For businesses, the message was simple: show how you deliver public value, drive local growth, and support Britain's industrial future.
Why the economic assessment of MetroLink needs to be broader than its capital costs alone
MetroLink is often judged by its €16bn price tag, but its real value lies in the transport capacity, connectivity and economic opportunities it could create for generations. The debate must consider not only the cost of building the project, but the benefits of having it
Irish business leaders “missing a trick” on policy influence by overlooking senior civil servants
98% of business leaders and officials say an ‘understanding gap’ exists, as executives focus on political access over policy implementers reveals new Fenton Fitzwilliam research
The end of ‘eco-friendly’: What the EU's anti-greenwashing rules mean for corporate communications
For many businesses, terms like ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ have been some of the most valuable words in communications. Soon, they could become some of the riskiest.
Water after Burnham: who pays for the reset?
With 82% of Britons backing nationalisation of water companies, record drought across England and Wales and growing regulatory pressure, water has become one of the hottest political issues facing Andy Burnham's new government.
Five communications lessons business leaders can learn from Andy Burnham’s first month as Prime Minister
In his first month as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has demonstrated a modern, social-first approach built on authenticity, accessibility and clear messaging. He demonstrates how political communication continues to evolve and why business leaders should be paying attention.
Build Britain: Why infrastructure investors need a new story
There has been much speculation about how the UK Government will "encourage" public and private sector infrastructure developers to Buy British, with some citing a likely change in procurement rules. Today, that speculation became reality.
Fenton Fitzwilliam strengthens senior leadership team in Ireland with two Director appointments
Nuala Ryan and Paddy O’Dea join expanding strategic communications and public affairs consultancy
What can Scotland learn from Ireland's data centre reckoning?
Scotland’s data centre industry is having a moment that Ireland already lived through. The only question is whether it can learn from it.
Fenton Fitzwilliam strengthens UK leadership with two senior appointments
Fenton Fitzwilliam, the specialist advisory firm, has appointed Gary Follis as Senior Adviser and Hamish Docherty as Director, further strengthening its senior leadership team.
Fenton Fitzwilliam appoints Natalie Buxton as UK Managing Director
Fenton Fitzwilliam, the specialist advisory firm within the Paritee network, has appointed Natalie Buxton as UK Managing Director as it expands its presence in the UK market.
Ireland’s EU Presidency 2026: Priorities, Pressures and Policy Direction
The Irish Government has published its priorities for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will commence in July. These priorities will act as the north star, guiding how Ireland steers negotiations, builds consensus among Member States and advances key legislative files across the Union.
Fenton Fitzwilliam to launch in the UK with Paritee backing
Fenton Fitzwilliam is expanding into the UK, building on our launch in Dublin and Brussels last year. In a short time, we have established a strong reputation for supporting organisations operating in complex and highly regulated environments. This next phase of growth is backed by Paritee, as it continues to invest in strengthening its corporate advisory capabilities in key markets. In the UK, we will work alongside our Paritee colleagues at Brands2Life, Truth Consulting and RPP to provide clients with integrated support across public affairs, communications and insight.
From fast fashion to circular textiles: What Ireland’s new Roadmap means for business
Earlier this month, the Government published Ireland’s first dedicated national roadmap for textiles. The National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles sets the policy direction for how Ireland can realise its potential for a more circular and sustainable economy in textiles. For businesses, this signals a strong shift away from the current ‘take-make-waste’ model and a move towards stronger producer responsibility.
Spend now or pay later: the real economics of community engagement.
Why “minimum compliance” community engagement is a false economy in Irish infrastructure. Community engagement comes across as something to be "managed" rather than invested in. It meets the requirement when it comes to development however, it creates an expensive problem for projects when it is not invested in accordingly
Navigating Europe’s drive for tech sovereignty
Europe’s push for technological sovereignty is rapidly reshaping the landscape for tech companies. Through major regulatory packages and ambitious investment programmes, the European Union is seeking greater control over the digital infrastructure, computing power and software ecosystems that support its economy.
A new era for packaging: Why industry engagement is critical to meeting EU waste targets.
The PPWR will bring new recycling and waste‑reduction requirements, and Ireland will need strong collaboration between Government and industry to meet them. With national plans now being updated, packaging manufacturers have a key opportunity to shape a practical path to compliance
What Ireland can learn from the UK’s HFSS advertising ban and why now is the moment for industry to engage
Ireland has taken steps in recent years to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing, but with the UK’s new restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) advertising now in force, it is likely that Ireland will examine if a similar approach could reshape our own food marketing landscape.
The urgent need to protect Ireland’s seas and skies
Ireland faces growing hybrid threats as Russian activity targets subsea cables and rogue drones appear near critical events. With most global data cables passing through Irish waters, disruption could cripple the economy. Planned defence investments are modest, and with the U.S. prioritizing its own interests, Ireland must urgently strengthen security to protect vital infrastructure.
Accelerating Infrastructure: A brave decision that has injected hope into a failing system.
After years of delays, spiralling costs, and mounting frustration, the Government’s new Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan promises a radical shift in how we deliver the projects that underpin housing, energy, and economic growth. It is a brave decision by this Government, and if it works, the future will be much brighter for everyone.
Irish Investment in defence will enhance not sacrifice sovereignty
Europe’s security landscape has changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and whilst many countries in Europe have increased their defence spending and re-evaluated their security, Ireland still faces gaps in its defence capabilities and is vulnerable to threats.
AI delays, cookie reform, and simplified reporting: Key takeaways from the EU Digital Omnibus
The Digital Omnibus is framed as a gamechanger for European businesses, but has potential to bring more uncertainty for industry
Former MP Stewart McDonald joins Fenton Fitzwilliam as Senior Adviser
The appointment comes as the new consultancy expands its presence across Dublin and Brussels to meet rising demand for advice on European and global policy issues.
Fenton Fitzwilliam launches to cut through the noise in Irish and European communications
In an era of rapid political change, businesses and organisations face a stark challenge: be understood or be ignored. A new agency launches to meet that challenge. Fenton Fitzwilliam, a locally owned public affairs and communications consultancy, opens its doors with a clear promise: “Our clients won’t just be heard, they’ll be understood.”
BusConnects and MetroLink: Why Ireland can’t afford to lose the public
Dublin is about to live through the most disruptive period of transport construction in its modern history. BusConnects will rip up roads, reallocate lanes, and redraw the bus map. MetroLink will tunnel through the city, reshaping how Dublin connects.
Shaping constructive engagement with members of the Oireachtas: What good looks like
Engaging with members of the Oireachtas is central to effective public affairs in Ireland. Done well, it creates real value, not only for clients, but also for TD's and Senators, helping them fulfil their respective roles and to make informed policy decisions.
Building Ireland's digital health ecosystem: How smarter use of digital can transform healthcare
There is no denying that Ireland’s health system faces significant pressures, including lengthy waiting lists, overworked staff, and rising demand resulting from demographic changes. Yet within this challenge lies a real opportunity.
Ireland’s next chapter in digital regulation: Why engagement with regulators matters
Ireland’s position as the European home for global tech giants brings both opportunity and responsibility. As the EU rolls out another wave of digital regulations, Ireland is not just a regulatory hub, it is a policy battleground.
Steps needed to unlock potential for domestic production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Ireland
Ireland has real and rising potential to become a meaningful producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). With aviation’s carbon challenge growing and Europe’s ReFuelEU rules pushing rapid uptake, there in an opportunity to marshal a domestic SAF industry.
What’s on in the EU Parliament? Key legislative trends in energy, transport, technology & pharma
As the European Union closes in on its 2030 climate and industrial goals, the European Parliament is accelerating legislation that directly affects businesses in energy, transport, technology, and pharmaceuticals.