SIPTU PR Advisor Patricia Ryan’s Revolving Door With State, Big Pharma and Anti-Worker Firms

SIPTU’s PR advisor Patricia Ryan has had contracts with anti-worker employers, such as being paid close to €54,000 through her firm DHR Communications by the State agency Inland Fisheries. 

This was described as a “ludicrous” waste of money by Social Democrats TD for North Kildare Aidan Farrelly in April 2026. 

SIPTU had been involved in various disputes with Inland Fisheries at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), namely an unfair dismissal case in 2023, which the union won, as well as a public spat involving the cessation of the State agency’s outreach scheme for vulnerable people in 2021. 

This raises concerns as to the conflict of interest, arising from the so-called revolving door. The revolving door is a concept used to describe the lucrative job opportunities between fat-cat trade unions, the media sphere, NGOs and the civil service. Currently, Patricia Ryan, and her communications firm is employed by SIPTU to handle top-level communications in the union. 

In May 2025, DHR Communications posted on Facebook to celebrate Europe Day. The post featured Patricia Ryan surrounded by Tánaiste Simon Harris and Head of the European Commission Representation Peter Power. “Our Managing Director Patricia celebrated Europe Day at the Europe House with Tánaiste Simon Harris and Head of the European Commission Representation Peter Power”, the post read.  

In another instance, a published lobbying return from 20 January 2022 shows DHR Communications lobbying on behalf of Big Pharma company Bayer Limited in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to roll out free contraception, initially for women under 25. 

Bayer Limited, the pharmaceuticals company, reportedly does not recognize trade unions for its employees in terms of collective bargaining, sources say, and its holding company German-owned Bayer Pharmaceuticals has been involved in various controversies, such as its acquisition of Monsanto in 2018.

The return names Patricia Ryan and Catherine Heaney as the persons primarily responsible for the lobbying activity. It also identifies Patricia Ryan as a former Designated Public Official, citing her previous roles as Special Adviser in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Department of Health.  

That return records lobbying activity including more than 100 emails, phone calls and text messages, one virtual meeting, and one informal communication. It says emails circulated a framework report on free contraception to TDs and Senators, and lists a wide range of Designated Public Officials contacted, including the Minister for Health, officials in the Department of the Taoiseach, and Oireachtas members.