Fine Gael denies doing deal with Michael Lowry in exchange for his support

Fine Gael has denied doing a deal with Independent TD Michael Lowry in exchange for his support.

Mr Lowry has claimed he reached “an understanding” with Fine Gael after repeatedly supporting Enda Kenny’s nomination for taoiseach.

This was denied by Charlie Flanagan, reappointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. “I don’t believe there has been any discussions with Michael Lowry or any agreed policy platform with Michael Lowry,” he said.

Mr Lowry was the source of controversy for Fine Gael during the election campaign when continued pressure was placed upon Mr Kenny to rule out doing business with him.

Mr Kenny finally said on February 5 that he would not have “any dealings with Michael Lowry or any other Independent”.

Mr Lowry did not take part in Fine Gael’s government formation talks which lasted 70 days.

However, he supported Mr Kenny’s nomination on Friday and afterwards crossed the Dáil chamber to shake hands with the Taoiseach.

Mr Lowry, who received more than 13,000 first-preference votes in February’s general election, said: “I’ve obviously had communications with Fine Gael. As far as I am concerned I have an understanding with Fine Gael and I won’t be talking about it. That’s my business.

“I just have an understanding. Obviously I’ve communicated with Fine Gael. I have an understanding with them, That’s as far as I am going,” he told the Sunday Business Post.

Speaking on RTE’s The Week in Politics, Mr Flanagan said he did not believe Mr Lowry received a quid pro quo.

“I don’t have any evidence of any understanding with Michael Lowry,” he said.

“I share a constituency boundary with Michael Lowry, many of the issues facing the people of Tipperary are the same issues facing the people of Laois.

“Michael Lowry has chosen from day one to support the Fine Gael government because I believe that many of the policies that we will be introducing over the next five-year policy platform period will be favourable and beneficial to the people of Tipperary, that are represented in the Dáil by Michael Lowry.”

Members of the Independent Alliance and other Independents have been rewarded with ministries, including Katherine Zappone, Shane Ross, Denis Naugh-ten, and Finian McGrath.

There were concessions made on cardiac care in the south-east in exchange for John Halligan’s support and commitments were given to Sean Canney on the western rail corridor.

However, Michael Fitzmaurice did not receive enough assurances on bogs and turf cutting and decided to abstain in Friday’s vote for Taoiseach.

Talks on the issue involving Mr Fitzmaurice, Mr Canney, and Michael Noonan will continue with the hope of getting the support of the Roscommon-Galway TD.