Micheál Martin defends Michael Lowry's role in negotiating programme for government

Micheál Martin said his comments about Michael Lowry stands, but that balance was needed. Picture: Damien Eagers 

Incoming taoiseach Micheál Martin has stood by his previous criticism of Michael Lowry in 2011 after the publication of the report of the Moriarty Tribunal, but has defended Mr Lowry's role in negotiating a programme for government.

There were tense exchanges at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis in Dublin, as Mr Martin was questioned on Mr Lowry’s role in the incoming government and the preceding negotiations.

Fianna Fáil formally voted to go into government on Sunday, with 93% of party delegates backing the programme for government.

The Moriarty Tribunal was established in 1997 to examine payments made to former taoiseach Charles Haughey and to Mr Lowry, an independent TD for Tipperary North and former cabinet minister.

The report found that Mr Lowry had received payments in exchange for favours, but he has rejected the findings of the report and denied all wrongdoing in the years since.

In 2011, after the publication of the report, Mr Martin said that it was a “deep indictment” of Mr Lowry’s behaviour and called on the TD to resign his seat in the Dáil.

At the time, he added that it had exposed “serious malpractice and corruption”.

However, asked about how he reconciled his statements in 2011 with Mr Lowry’s involvement in the incoming government and its formation, Mr Martin said that he stood by his previous comments.

“What I said back then stands. What was revealed in the Moriarty Tribunal was shocking and was wrong, and I condemned it at the time, still do,” Mr Martin said.

Michael Lowry has been elected at every general election since the report of the Moriarty Tribunal was published. Picture: Leah Farrell

Mr Martin said that the people of Tipperary and from other constituencies elected independent TDs, and that it was his obligation to form a new government.

“It’s with quite a number of independents, not just Michael Lowry, but all of the others get forgotten about in all the assessment of this and commentary on this. The Seán Canneys of this world, the Marian Harkins and so on,” Mr Martin said.

“You [the media] seem to ignore their participation as members of a regional group.”

Mr Martin said that he did not “in any way condone” the actions covered by the Moriarty Tribunal, but that Mr Lowry has been elected at every general election since it was published.

“We can’t ignore that, I can’t ignore the mandates that independents have received.”

Mr Martin stressed that Mr Lowry would not be a minister in the incoming coalition.

“I don’t think there’s anything corrupt in the policy platform. I don’t think anybody is suggesting that there is,” Mr Martin said.

There were tense exchanges between Mr Martin and the media, with the incoming taoiseach saying that media commentators were unhappy with the 2024 election result

“I’ve watched the agenda in the last couple of weeks, it’s as if a lot of people in the commentary world are very disappointed with the outcome of this election,” Mr Martin said.

“From day one, it’s been negativity all the way towards this government and it hasn’t even been established.

“There needs to be a bit of balance here, Michael Lowry is not in government. He was nominated by the Regional Independents Group to chair their group for the negotiations.”

Meanwhile, Fine Gael held its final regional events in both Cork and Meath, with party TDs and Senators set to cast their vote on whether to go into coalition on Monday.