Notes

Political parties act as mediators between interest groups and the general public I.e the electorate.
Interset groups work with political parties to develop policies that protect their their interest and to extend their interests.

The policies of political parties are developed by the leadership of these parties bearing in mind the requirements of their interest groups.
They also develop populist policies that appeal to the electorate. These populist policies are put before the electorate at general elections time through their party activists. These activists are happy to be part of the party machine . They know that when their party is in power they will also get some reward. Some activists will get government contracts worth millions- which will facilitate a further contribution to the parties funds. Other activists will have access to senior party officials who can influence appointments within the state or local goverment system or indeed with fellow party activists- a bit like Freemasons - very discreetly.
The general public might expect certain programmes to be undertaken. However insofar as these expectations are in conflict with the vested interests some element may be undertaken that does not seriously threaten the vested interest groups or some policy review group may be set up to delay the development of these plans. This is a fig leaf for doing nothing until full information is gathered thereby legitimating the delay.
Ministers generally take their orders from developed policy thereby limiting their freedom to make individual decisions. It's up to them to defend government policy if they want to keep their access to power and have a chance at the leadership of the party.
Of course the Taoiseach and his band of advisors are the ones who arbitrate between the electorate and the interest groups.
The biggest losers are poor people who are not regarded as a power group because they do not vote in sufficient numbers. There are pressure groups that put forward cases for more resources for diverse elements of poverty and deprivation but many are not connected to a mass political movement.
Their only form of protest is the street protest.