Healy-Rae, Lowry have 'agreements'

INDEPENDENTS JACKIE Healy- Rae and Michael Lowry had “political agreements” with the Government, Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil.

With the Government’s majority reduced to three, the votes of the two TDs have become critical to its survival. Mr Cowen said yesterday the agreements were confidential and based on the programme for government.

He added there were “certain issues of particular concern to the deputies that we will try to accommodate, but they will have to be done in the context of the overall programmes that are available”.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it seemed the Government was held together by the votes of the two TDs.

One of the TDs (Mr Lowry) was pursuing a massive development in Tipperary, which apparently required the engine of a casino to drive it, he said. The other TD (Mr Healy-Rae) appeared, he added, to have a continued interest in ring roads around towns in Kerry.

Mr Cowen said anything relating to the roads programme would be dealt with in the Department of Transport estimate. The Minister for Justice was considering a report on the future policy on gaming licensing.

“All these issues are matters that will be dealt with in the normal course of events, in respect of the preparation of budgets and the putting of a budget to the House,” Mr Cowen added.

“Each deputy will make up his or her mind on that basis.”

He added that if TDs liaised with his office, they dealt with an official who also had other duties.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked if Mr Healy-Rae and Mr Lowry were correct when they suggested to constituents they were securing local projects by virtue of their support for the Government.

Mr Cowen said both TDs supported the Government and had arrangements in place. “They have the same concern for the national interest as anyone else,” he added.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin suggested gaming laws should always be based solely on the public good, while being mindful of the serious gambling addictions existing in society.

Mr Cowen said the question of updating legislation in that area had been considered independently by the Minister as a matter of course.