Mr Ray Burke has told the Flood tribunal he had no recollection of being told by Mr Oliver Barry that he was seeking a national radio licence.
He agreed that Mr Barry, former Century Radio director, was a close personal friend and a political supporter but couldn't recall having a conversation about the radio franchise.
"He may have mentioned in passing, over a drink sometime, that he was going for putting together an application for a licence but I've no recollection of such a discussion," Mr Burke said. He would have heard the names of the likely national radio licence candidates "in a Dublin gossip way" when the franchise was first advertised.
"He had no reason to discuss it with me because I had no role in the allocation of the licences. This was a matter for the IRTC." Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, for the tribunal, asked if he made representations for a licence on behalf of Mr Barry. "No, and that has been confirmed by all of the members of the IRTC. I know that I had no hand, act or part in it." Nor did Mr Burke know that Mr Barry had also been seeking a Dublin 1 licence. Mr Hanratty pointed to Mr Barry's assertion that he had "the clout" to get this licence with his political connections. "Well, I have no idea who he was talking about," Mr Burke said. "Mr Barry is a man who had many, many friends in the political arena.
"He didn't actually get the licence, which I think was the nub of it." Mr Burke also denied he gave assurances to Mr Barry or Mr James Stafford that they could reduce their ownership of Century Radio below 50 per cent - a requirement by the IRTC on awarding the national licence.
A memo from a meeting on April 20th, 1990, between Century's bank manager and Mr Barry and Mr Stafford recorded the belief that Mr Burke had given such assurances they could reduce their ownership.
"It couldn't have happened Mr Chairman, because I wouldn't have had the power or the authority to do it," Mr Burke said.