Frank Dunlop (born 9 October 1947) is an Irish lobbyist, former civil servant and former broadcast journalist with Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).
Originally from County Kilkenny, he was a key witness to the Mahon Tribunal which investigated improper payments by property developers to Irish politicians and will be a key witness in pending political corruption cases involving property developers and politicians to whom he paid bribes on their behalf.
[1] At UCD, Dunlop began to become involved in politics and he joined Kevin Barry Cumann, the branch of Fianna Fáil's youth wing in the university.
Dunlop described its role to The Mahon Tribunal in 2003, as being a 'post office' – "it just delivered copies of statements, speeches, announcements, CSO details to the news desks of newspapers; there was no substantive policy discussions with the media prior to that time".
This role enabled Dunlop to develop significant relationships with political correspondents, news reporters, editorial personnel and politicians.
He moved to the Department of Education when Fine Gael politician John Boland was Minister and his role was liaison with the media.
[2] He had a director's role which involved developing a portfolio of clients and he head a target fee income to deliver annually.
Dunlop told The Mahon Tribunal, in June 2006, that he kept a stash of cash to bribe county councillors on a regular basis in the 18 property development transactions he was involved with as a public relations consultant.
RTÉ dropped both presenters in favour of Olivia O'Leary, after Tom Gilmartin alleged that Dunlop had made payments to politicians at The Mahon Tribunal.
When he first took the witness stand in 2000, after failing to provide a written statement, Chairman Flood responded to his evidence by asking him to reflect overnight on his position.