TD: ‘A triumph of innuendo over evidence’

MICHAEL LOWRY has said his conscience is “clear” and he will not apologise for something he did not do.

The Moriarty Tribunal found that Mr Lowry as Communications Minister helped Esat boss Denis O’Brien win the second mobile phone licence in 1995 and received financial benefits in return.

But for the second time in two days the Independent TD insisted he neither interfered with the licence process nor received payments from Mr O’Brien.

He reiterated his view that the Moriarty Tribunal was “a triumph of innuendo over evidence” and “a scandal of truly epic proportions”.

But he conceded that the Dáil was likely to censure him and that there was little he could do to prevent it.

Mr Lowry was speaking during the concluding stages of the two-day debate on the Moriarty report.

After being granted an hour’s speaking time on Tuesday, he was given 20 minutes yesterday, but in the event only spoke for about 14.

Party whips met last night to agree a censure motion that will be tabled today.

Given that Government and opposition alike have condemned Mr Lowry’s conduct, there will be no need for a vote and the censure motion will pass without one.

But Mr Lowry said he would not have sought a vote regardless.

“Micheál Martin, Fianna Fáil and others can continue to make me a political football by way of a politically convenient censure motion,” Mr Lowry said.

“I will not give my detractors the satisfaction of putting this motion to a vote.”

Mr Lowry also made clear he had no intention of resigning.

“I will not walk away from the overwhelming mandate that was given to me by the constituents of North Tipperary,” he said.

“I would also emphatically reject the sneering and snide references to ‘gombeen politics’ and parish pump politics that seem to delight certain sections of the media.

“Contrary to what might be suggested in the media, the constituents of North Tipperary are every bit as intelligent and politically sophisticated as their counterparts anywhere else in the country. I am proud to serve them.”

Mr Lowry claimed that, contrary to the tribunal findings, he had not received payments or benefits from Mr O’Brien.

“It is a fact that no money was ever received into my bank account, my family or any of my businesses’ accounts from Denis O’Brien. I have never received any money from Denis O’Brien or from anyone on his behalf,” Mr Lowry said.

“Every transaction in every bank account that I have had since 1986, either in my own name or in the name of my companies, were trawled through. I was able to account for every single transaction in every account. The same went for all accounts held by my late mother, my brothers, sister, and my children,” he added.

“I would ask the members of this house to reflect on the enormous level of intrusion that can be visited upon a citizen by a tribunal of inquiry.

“The pressure as brought to bear would have been too much for me had it not been for the kind support of my family, friends and my supporters. I owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.”