Lowry 'long gone' before CIE-Esat deal

Former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry has told the Oireachtas inquiry into cost over-runs at CIE that he was long gone before a controversial deal between the company and Esat was struck.

Mr Lowry emphatically denied any involvement in the arrangement, which gave Esat permission to lay telecom cables along train tracks.

The Tipperary North TD also said he was not a personal friend of millionaire Denis O'Brien, but that Mr O'Brien had 'made a pest of himself' phoning the department every day during his time in office.

Mr Lowry is one of three people to have held the post of Transport Minister before the Mini CTC inquiry today - Alan Dukes and current Minister Mary O'Rourke are also testifying.