A war of words has developed between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael over the source of claims that the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, was aware that one of his party's councillors was prepared to sell his vote on certain planning matters.
Fine Gael's Mr Ivan Yates said yesterday the allegations contained "all the hallmarks of a Fianna Fail dirty tricks campaign". However, a spokesman for Fianna Fail said there was "no truth" in the claim. A senior party source said Fianna Fail "utterly rejected the comment. The story was as much a surprise to us as to anyone."
In a written statement yesterday, Mr Bruton said he had "no recollection" of making a "special arrangement" to meet the political lobbyist, Mr Frank Dunlop, in 1992 to be informed that "a named Fine Gael councillor solicited a bribe from him".
It was reported in the Irish In- dependent yesterday that Mr Dunlop would give evidence to the Flood tribunal to the effect that the late Mr Tom Hand, a former Fine Gael chairman of Dublin County Council, sought £250,000 from him in 1992 in return for support on a rezoning vote.
A former Fianna Fail party official, Mr Dunlop was employed by a Cork property developer, Mr Owen O'Callaghan, in January 1991, to lobby politicians and public officials in connection with the rezoning of the Quarryvale site in west Co Dublin. The site is now the location of the Liffey Valley shopping complex. Mr Dunlop, who is in the US, was not available for comment.
Mr Bruton said he had received "no suggestion" from the Flood tribunal "that any allegation concerning me is to be made in the tribunal by Mr Dunlop". He said the allegations were "extremely serious. Bribery is a criminal offence."
The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said the report appeared "to be designed to undermine the work of the tribunal" as Mr Hand's name "could only have been known by a tiny number of people".
Mr Dunlop told the Flood tribunal on Wednesday that he received £175,000 from Mr O'Callaghan for lobbying in relation to the Quarryvale site. He agreed to inform the tribunal of the identity of elected representatives who had sought payment for their support for rezoning the site.
It is understood Mr Dunlop has not provided a written statement to the tribunal. He is due to resume his evidence on Tuesday.
The establishment of a register containing information on lobbyists has been sought "as a matter of urgency" by the former Fianna Fail minister, Mr Michael O'Kennedy. The Government has already rejected a Private Members' Bill published by the Labour Party to require lobbyists to register their interests.
However, Mr O'Kennedy said a register was now needed. It should include the qualifications of individuals employed as lobbyists, the clients and interests they represented, the issues on which they lobbied and the fees they received.