ABSTRACT
Political parties are far from being the only channels between the community and the formal institutions of government. Pressure groups can usually be distinguished from political parties. In the words of Richard Rose: pressure groups do not themselves seek to win control of government by presenting a slate of candidates to the electorate. The difficulties of categorization are perhaps best illustrated by experience of environmental organizations. Many Green parties have developed from pressure groups advocating environmental reforms. For purposes of classifying and discussing Irish pressure groups, it is convenient to use some simple sets of distinctions as proposed by Maria Maguire. Agricultural pressure groups became more Brussels-orientated than the pressure groups of any other sector of the economy and have remained so ever since. The strongest economic pressure groups, the major agricultural and employer organizations, have very efficient intelligence and representational services. The range of contacts between pressure groups and ministers and their advisers is wide and their number enormous.
