Taoiseach finally calls for Lowry to resign
After appearing out of kilter with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore on the issue, Enda Kenny belatedly joined the clamour for the Tipperary North TD to quit the Dáil.
Asked if Lowry should go, Mr Kenny said: “In an ideal world, yes — but we don’t live in an ideal world.”
Some Fine Gael TDs privately expressed concern that the Taoiseach had not put clearer distance between the party and the former minister.
Mr Kenny added that Mr Lowry had serious questions to answer regarding the damning verdict on him contained in the Moriarty Tribunal report.
“There is a Dáil debate on this next week, and I consider it absolutely essential that Deputy Lowry answer in the House in respect of the allegations and comments made about him in the Moriarty Tribunal,” the Taoiseach said in Brussels.
Mr Kenny said the matter proved it was essential to legislate so that Oireachtas committees can conduct in-depth probes, which were halted after the Abbeylara case.
“My view actually is that, had the Abbeylara question been decided before now, this kind of investigative work could have been done at a far earlier time, I think, and probably at far less cost than the Moriarty Tribunal.
“Be that as it may, that’s why, because of the seriousness of what’s contained in this, I have referred the report to the gardaí, to the DPP and the Revenue Commissioners,” he added.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the findings of the tribunal were “very serious and the matter was now in the hands of the garda”.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said it would be “premature” at this stage to indicate that a criminal investigation is to take place due to the findings of the Moriarty report.
In his first public comments on the report, Environment Minister Phil Hogan insisted Mr Justice Moriarty had not believed other people’s version of events above his own.
“There was no adverse comment or finding made in relation to Deputy Hogan,” he said.
Mr Hogan said he would need to read the full report before deciding if Mr Lowry should quit the Dáil or not, saying Fine Gael had “cut the deputy loose” in 1997.
Mr Lowry was last night meeting with his supporters in Tipperary North where he received strong support in the general election.
Opposition TDs have criticised Mr Kenny’s decision not to take questions on the Moriarty report when the Dáil debates it next week.
Labour Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte will answer for the Government.
