Politics

Fianna Fáil will not do business with Lowry, says Martin

Micheál Martin says findings of Moriarty Tribunal cannot be ignored

Micheál Martin said his party would not agree any arrangement with Michael Lowry. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Micheál Martin said his party would not agree any arrangement with Michael Lowry. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Sarah Bardon
Tue Jan 26 2016 - 11:59

Fianna Fáil will not do business with Independent TD Michael Lowry, party leader Micheál Martin has said.

Mr Martin said his party would not agree any arrangement with Mr Lowry.

He said the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal cannot be ignored by any political party.

Mr Martin said: “You can’t dodge those. They are very real and significant conclusions by the judge.”

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Mr Lowry was found by Judge Moriarty to have “secured the winning” of the State’s second mobile phone licence for businessman Denis O’Brien’s East Digifone.

Both Mr Lowry and Mr O’Brien have denied the findings of the report.

Mr Lowry worked with the Fianna Fáil-led Government from 2007-2011.

However Mr Martin said that was before the Moriarty Tribunal had concluded.

Mr Martin said there was a fundamental difference between then and now.

He said the findings were strong and unequivocal.

Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil cannot ignore those and no other party who wants to retain their credibility should do business with Mr Lowry.