Martin: FF has no regrets about Lowry support

FIANNA FÁIL does not have any regrets about relying on the support of Michael Lowry in the last Dáil despite now calling on him to resign as an independent TD.

Opposition leader Micheál Martin said Mr Lowry should “consider his position” following the “damning” revelations in the Moriarty Tribunal Report. It found that the former communications minister passed on sensitive information to businessman Denis O’Brien during a competition process to operate a mobile phone licence in 1995.

Mr Martin said he will outline in a Dáil debate on the Moriarty Tribunal what Mr Lowry should do in light of the findings.

In discussions about the report in the Dáil yesterday, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny hit back at criticism from Fianna Fáil saying it never published the “secret agreement it had with Deputy Lowry to stay in power”.

Asked on RTÉ radio if it was a mistake for the last Government to rely on the support of Mr Lowry, Mr Martin said: “The people elect people to Dáil Éireann, Government’s have to form and Governments have to run.”

The Fianna Fáil leader said: “I would have preferred to have a majority any time. Without question, despite the fact that he has been returned and elected time and time again his behaviour in relation to this was appalling.”

But Mr Martin said he did not believe Mr Lowry acted independently in deciding to award the mobile phone licence to Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone consortium.

“This was a government decision. The principle of collective cabinet responsibility applies here. Of the present Government, six ministers sat around that table including the Taoiseach himself,” he said.

Mr Martin called on those ministers to answer “specific questions” to the Dáil during a debate on the issue which is likely to take place next week.

“Instead of the normal business of the Dáil we should reconvene the Dáil on Monday to have a comprehensive and substantive debate on the Moriarty report and its findings.

“In addition to that, the Ministers at the time who were responsible for the decision that was ultimately was taken to award the licence should facilitate the Dáil in some form to answer questions specifically about how the licence was awarded.”