It was "highly unlikely" the McEvaddy brothers ever lobbied Mr McCreevy or Ms Harney over their plans for a new terminal near Dublin Airport, their spokesman said yesterday.
He said it was also unlikely the two politicians were lobbied on the issue of a proposed EU ban on older aircraft with noise mufflers, which is fiercely opposed by the McEvaddys' company, Omega Air.
"Why would they seek the support of these two people when their ministries are not pertinent to the two issues which the brothers are concerned with?" said the spokesman. However, he said it was conceivable the two issues were discussed in a casual sense at some stage with them.
Sources close to Mr McEvaddy pointed out that Ms Harney was in favour of a new airport terminal at Baldonnel, which was strongly opposed by the McEvaddy brothers.
When contacted by The Irish Times yesterday, Mr Ulick McEvaddy declined to comment. He was speaking from the villa near Nice where Ms Harney and Mr McCreevy stayed.
"I am on holidays. I have absolutely nothing to say at all," he said. When asked his views on the criticisms made of Ms Harney, he said: "I am on holidays. I am sorry but I have nothing to say."
It is understood Mr McEvaddy, normally accessible to the media, believes if he makes any comment his remarks will be used to further embarrass Ms Harney.
The villa is registered in the name of a subsidiary of Omega Air and is regularly used by employees working for the McEvaddys. Several business associates of the McEvaddys and at least four national politicians - Ms Harney, Mr McCreevy, Mr Jim Mitchell and Mrs Nora Owen - have used it.