Shatter accuses Martin of ‘hypocrisy’

JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter launched a scathing attack on Micheál Martin over his response to the Moriarty Tribunal report claiming the Fianna Fáil leader had engaged in “nauseating hypocrisy”.

As the debate on the phone licence probe rumbled on, Mr Shatter hit back at criticism of his party by suggesting Mr Martin had emerged from “a political twilight zone suffering from amnesia”.

Staunchly defending Fine Gael’s handling of the report’s findings, he noted political donations that had been previously made to Fianna Fáil.

He also pointed out that FF and Mr Martin had made their own “secret deal” with Independent TD Michael Lowry, the politician criticised in the probe, for support in Government.

“He [Mr Martin] is presenting as someone who has emerged after 20 years lost in a political twilight zone suffering from amnesia and oblivious to events in which he has personally participated.”

Earlier, Mr Martin said it was “extraordinary” that Taoiseach Enda Kenny was refusing to accept the findings of the 14-year probe.

Mr Kenny said he was restricted in what he could say because of ongoing legal action against the state by failed bidders for the phone licence.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called on FG to reveal its accounts and disclose any previously concealed corporate donations.

Labour backbencher Tommy Broughan also broke ranks with his own Government coalition party and claimed FG’s concealment of a $50,000 donation from the tribunal had been “disgraceful”.

But Environment Minister Phil Hogan fired back at the Opposition benches over claims he had not fully cooperated with the tribunal.

Mr Hogan did say he accepted the findings of the report, which include that he had no memory of an alleged meeting with Esat Digifone boss Denis O’Brien.

But no adverse findings were made against him, argued Mr Hogan, adding that FF was full of “double standards”.