FORMER TAOISEACH John Bruton has expressed disappointment and regret that his government’s award of the second mobile phone licence to Denis O’Brien’s consortium in 1995 turned out as it did.
Making his first comment since the publication of the Moriarty report last week, Mr Bruton defended his actions as a member of the government that made the decision.
He said he was still in the process of reading the 2,400-page report and “would prefer not to make specific comment until I have further satisfied myself as to all the facts”.
But he added: “One has to look back on this matter with great disappointment and regret.”
He was responding to claims by Persona, which lost out to Mr O’Brien in the competition for the licence, that politicians in the then-governing rainbow coalition had failed to heed its concerns on the result.
Persona chairman Tony Boyle said yesterday his consortium contacted the Democratic Left leader Proinsias de Rossa and Mr Bruton about its reservations. Mr Bruton wrote back that the government “fully supported” the decision taken by then minister for communications Michael Lowry, Mr Boyle claimed.
In the letter, Mr Bruton wrote he was “fully satisfied that the process conducted by the minister and independent consultants was absolutely fair, objective and non-discriminatory”. He responded to Mr Boyle’s claims, citing a number of reasons why the cabinet subcommittee on telecommunications recommended exclusive negotiations be opened with Esat Digifone for the licence.
He pointed out yesterday that civil servants who assessed the bids had recommended Esat, as had an external consultant. Mr Bruton said it was the committee’s understanding that Mr Lowry was not involved in the process.
“We were also greatly reassured by the fact that civil servants from more than one department were involved,” he told The Irish Times.
In 1995, the members of the committee were Mr Bruton, tánaiste Dick Spring of Labour and Proinsias De Rossa of Democratic Left, along with minister for finance Ruairí Quinn.
The tribunal report stated it was “perhaps not surprising” that the four men “were left with the impression that there was a clear, unconditional and unequivocal outcome”, given the content of the documents Mr Lowry presented to them at a meeting in October 1995.
Mr Lowry bypassed consideration by his cabinet colleagues to deliver the result in favour of Esat, it said. He misled the coalition party leaders and sought to “overreach” Mr Bruton by claiming the government had no discretion in the decision.
The tribunal report will be discussed tomorrow and on Wednesday in the Dáil, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny due to make the opening statement.
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said it was a matter for Mr Lowry to decide whether or not to resign as a TD.