FF will attempt to force Lowry out of office

FIANNA FÁIL is set to attempt to force disgraced Independent TD Michael Lowry from office by bringing a motion in the Dáil for him to resign.

Micheál Martin last night called on political parties to back the move while also proposing a forum for sitting ministers to answer questions about the Moriarty Tribunal findings.

The FF leader also challenged Taoiseach Enda Kenny over his role in Fine Gael and fundraising for the party when the Esat mobile phone licence was awarded in the mid-1990s.

Mr Martin was scathing in his criticism over FG’s response to the report, accusing them of effectively ignoring its findings about their own party.

“There is a sustained effort to undermine the impact of the report through attempting to misrepresent its findings as being purely about one rogue minister.

“The Government benches are full of people who have built their careers on posturing about both real and imagined ethical issues. When confronted with a report as serious as this their response has been a combination of silence, misrepresentation and minimisation.”

FF want answers from Mr Kenny over a number of issues, including:

* A meeting arranged between Esat businessman Denis O’Brien and then-Tourism Minister Enda Kenny in May 17 1995.

* Claims Mr Kenny hosted a fundraising dinner days before the licence was awarded at which a licence bidder was present.

Sinn Féin also rounded on Mr Kenny’s response to the report as party leader. Gerry Adams said the only way to clean up politics would be breaking the link with business and the “golden circle”.

Independent TD Mick Wallace also questioned why so many Fine Gael TDs had not bothered to attend the debate.