Lowry faces off with reporters over Tribunal questioning

Independent TD Michael Lowry has accused members of the media of trying to undermine his mandate following renewed attention on the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.

Mr Lowry was a key figure in shepherding the regional independent bloc into Government formation talks, which has resulted in the group being offered two super junior roles along with two other junior ministries.

The 70-year-old was criticised in the tribunal that was established in September 1997 to examine payments to former Irish premier Charles Haughey and Mr Lowry.

The tribunal’s final report was published in March 2011 and found that Mr Lowry, a former Fine Gael TD, helped businessman Denis O’Brien secure the State’s second mobile phone licence in 1995.

It also criticised the TD’s behaviour as “profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking”.

Asked on Wednesday whether he could commit to not engaging in similar behaviour following the new Government deal, Mr Lowry said: “The media has been overconsumed by this. You have given the past month trying to undermine my position and the very strong mandate I got from the people of Tipperary and north Kilkenny.

“You’ve been ranting for the last month in your publications. Let me say I enjoy the confidence of my group. I also enjoy the confidence of the Taoiseach and Tanaiste in the negotiations that I had.”

He added: “Unlike you, they respected the mandate that I have from the people.”

Pressed on concerns that members of the public had about his involvement in the Government formation talks, Mr Lowry repeated that he had been given a mandate from his constituents.

He told reporters: “Unfortunately, if it doesn’t please some of you, that’s your problem, not mine.”

The Tribunal’s report found it was “beyond doubt” that Mr Lowry imparted substantive information to Mr O’Brien, which it said was “of significant value and assistance to him in securing the licence”.

It also described Mr Lowry’s assistance in helping Mr O’Brien secure the licence as “disgraceful and insidious”.

Recently, gardai sent a file relating to its investigations around the findings of the tribunal to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Following the publication of the March 2011 report, the Dail motion calling on Mr Lowry to voluntarily resign his membership passed without a vote. He refused to step down.

He has maintained that there was no wrongdoing in the awarding of the phone licence.