Former government press secretary Mr P.J. Mara considered leaving the public service in late 1989 or early 1990. However, he had felt "obligated" to his then boss, Mr Charles Haughey, to stay, due to a prolonged period of political turmoil, he told the tribunal.
Mr Mara was Fianna Fail secretary from 1983 to 1987 and government press secretary from 1987 to 1992. He now runs a public relations consultancy, Mara Communications.
He told Ms Patricia Dillon SC, counsel for the tribunal, he had thought about leaving his position to take up consultancy work in late 1989 or early 1990. There was, however, at that time "a lot of speculation" about whether the then Taoiseach, Mr Haughey, would resign at the end of Ireland's presidency of the EU.
The Programme for Government with the PDs was also due for renegotiation early in 1990, and there had also been a presidential election later that year.
Mr Mara said he had wanted to leave the public service at around that time or was "contemplating getting out". He talked to his friend, Mr Oliver Barry, about it but time moved on and the political climate deteriorated. He stayed in his position as government press secretary as things became more difficult over that 20-month period. He felt obligated to Mr Haughey.
Mr Mara had not approached any other company seeking consultancy work. "I was still government press secretary and I still had a central role in that administration." He had to be careful and discreet.
Mr Mara had no knowledge of correspondence between Mr Barry and Mr Ray Burke at that time, although he was aware they knew each other, he said. Mr Barry had never discussed with him the issue of capping RTE's advertising revenue in the context of the award of a radio licence to Century. "The first I heard of it was when it became a government announcement and when I had to make the announcement to a grateful, or ungrateful, world."
He said he did not get involved in policy-making or policy decisions. He reported to the Taoiseach and not to ministers. "I would not have had any real discussions with Burke about that matter." He could not recall whether he had any conversations with Mr Barry about the capping of RTE's revenue.