Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has defended negotiating a government with Michael Lowry despite the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal, which investigated Lowry's dealings with businessmen and payments made to politicians.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has defended negotiating a government with Michael Lowry despite the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal . As government formation talks continue, the Irish Mirror now understands that a government is unlikely to be in place before January 22. Mr Lowry is engaging with the government on behalf of the Regional Independents group. He was a Fine Gael minister until 1996, when several tribunals examined his conduct.
The Moriarty Tribunal investigated, among other things, Mr Lowry’s dealings with several high-profile businessmen and payments made to politicians. It found that when he was communications minister, he helped Denis O’Brien’s company to win Ireland’s second mobile phone licence. The report also stated Mr O’Brien had provided payments and support for a loan to Mr Lowry. It also found that Mr Lowry’s attempt to influence a rent review of a building part-owned by Ben Dunne, which was being leased to Telecom Éireann, was “profoundly corrupt, to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking”. On Monday, the Taoiseach defended engaging in government formation talks with Mr Lowry, arguing that he had been elected on “many occasions since the Moriarty Tribunal”. He said: “Deputy Lowry has supported many governments over many years at this stage”. The Taoiseach also dismissed questions on whether he would invite Gerry “The Monk” Hutch to negotiations, saying he did not think the “comparison is the same at all”. The Taoiseach continued: “ has a mandate to represent the people of Tipperary. He also has a mandate to participate in government formation talks”. The 34th Dáil will meet for the first time on Wednesday to elect a new Ceann Comhairl
Politics Ireland Government Michael Lowry Moriarty Tribunal
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