Alan Kelly and Michael Lowry spar over election in Tipperary constituency

Michael Lowry has accused his constituency rival, Environment Minister Alan Kelly, of being “arrogant” by seeking to rule him out of the next government.

Launching a stinging attack, the former communications minister added that “threats and innuendo” from Mr Kelly will not determine the outcome of the election.

In response, Mr Kelly advised journalists to check Mr Lowry’s speaking time and Dáil attendance records as he claimed he “rarely sees him” in either Leinster House or representing people on the ground in his own constituency.

The TDs, who both represent the Tipperary constituency, went on the attack yesterday after Mr Kelly made it clear that the Labour Party would not be willing to do a deal with Mr Lowry after the general election.

Reacting to comments made by Mr Lowry, the environment minister said: “I don’t pay much attention to Mr Lowry, I rarely see him in the constituency and I rarely ever see him in the Dáil as well so I don’t pay much attention to him.

“I note that Deputy Lowry has ruled out doing any business with the Labour Party and I can verify that to be true because he hasn’t done any business with me in the constituency in the last five years so we will continue that way.”

Mr Kelly added: “My ambition is to see this government elected and I believe it will be re-elected, and I don’t feel that we will be working with any Independents after this election, and that includes Michael Lowry.

“I don’t feel it is necessary to do business with any Independents and I don’t want to.”

Earlier Mr Lowry had accused Mr Kelly, the Labour Party’s deputy leader, of “jumping on the bandwagon”.

“In relation to Alan Kelly, I’d just say that his comments smack of his customary arrogance. Effectively what he’s trying to do is circumvent the will of the Tipperary people,” Mr Lowry said on Tipp FM and on Newstalk radio. “The bottom line is that thankfully we have a democracy, elections are due, and elections are about the people having their say and electing their representatives.”

Mr Lowry said that only the people will decide who is elected:

“It’s not the media, it’s not the political pundits, it’s not threats and innuendo from Alan Kelly that will make the decision, it’s the people who will make the decision known.”

He also criticised comments from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin this morning. Fianna Fáil has ruled out doing business again with Mr Lowry.

Party leader Micheál Martin said the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal relating to Mr Lowry are “something that all political parties cannot fudge”.

He said: “You can’t dodge those. They are very real and significant conclusions by the judge. The bottom line is that we would not be doing business.”

Since last weekend, Fine Gael and Labour ministers have been dogged by questions about Mr Lowry after the Taoiseach and Tánaiste both attempted to dodge the question.