Decision over positions with IRTC defended

Mr Ray Burke has defended his decision to recommend two constituents and a Fianna Fail supporter for positions with the IRTC. "It's simple networking - no more, no less," the former Fianna Fail politician told the Flood tribunal yesterday.

Mr Burke asked IRTC member Mr Donal O'Sullivan to propose that Mr Burke's bank - the Ulster Bank in Dublin Airport - be used as the IRTC's bankers. He also asked that his constituent, solicitor Mr Michael O'Connor and accountancy firm Deloitte Haskins Selles be proposed for work with the IRTC.

Mr Pat Kenny of Deloitte Haskins Selles had done good work for Fianna Fail and this was a "thank you" for that, Mr Burke said.

Mr William Moody, the Ulster Bank branch manager, was a friend of his and a constituent. "It was a question of doing him a favour, directing a bit of business towards his company," he said.

Mr Burke said the IRTC was an independent body and ultimately the decision rested with it. "I was merely making a recommendation," he said, and pointed out that no other names were proposed on the day.

Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, for the tribunal suggested that other IRTC members might not have expected this issue to arise at the IRTC's first meeting and therefore may not have had proposals ready. Mr Burke said he could not disagree with this but there was nothing wrong in his actions.

"This was housekeeping of the IRTC and I felt in no way I was compromising anyone in relation to it," he said. This was an opportunity to lobby on behalf of constituents and he was "delighted" to do it.

Asked if it was appropriate to put Mr O'Sullivan in such a position, given that Mr Burke had appointed him to the IRTC, Mr Burke said he felt in no way he was asking him to do anything improper.

He insisted that none of the three firms had lobbied him for these recommendations. "I want to emphasise again that I benefited in no way by the appointment of those three people by the IRTC."

Mr Hanratty also asked why Mr Burke was keen to have the national station up and running by spring 1989, while he provided no timescale for the local stations.

Mr Burke said the national station was the easiest to handle.