Party apologises over criticism of tribunal

Fine Gael has apologised unreservedly to the tribunal over criticisms of the inquiry by an unnamed party official in an Irish Times article.

Party solicitors admitted yesterday the remarks, made in relation to the recent appearance of former Fine Gael minister Seán Barrett before the tribunal, were inappropriate and should not have been made.

Earlier this month, The Irish Times reported that a party spokesman had described the tribunal as "an outrage and a disgrace" for allowing unfounded allegations to be made against Mr Barrett. The spokesman said the tribunal had disgraced itself by giving a platform to environmental activist Michael Smith to say a developer had claimed to have bribed Mr Barrett in the early 1990s.

Mr Barrett, who denies the allegation, was not asked about it when he gave evidence several weeks before Mr Smith.

Following publication of the article, the tribunal wrote to Fine Gael seeking to know whether the statement was made by a Fine Gael spokesman and demanding to know the factual basis for making the claim.

Even before this letter was received, Fine Gael's solicitor Kevin O'Higgins wrote to the tribunal expressing regret for the comments made.

He said senior party officials appreciated that if there was any issue regarding evidence given to the tribunal those affected should have aired it before the inquiry itself.

"Fine Gael, accordingly, regrets the comments made and unreservedly apologises to the tribunal for any impression created that the party is critical of the work carried on by the tribunal.

"While there is no attempt to deny the accuracy of the report by the journalist, the comments made emphatically do not represent the views of Fine Gael."

Mr O'Higgins said Fine Gael had the highest regard for the tribunal and valued the "productive and co-operative relationship" that had developed with the inquiry. His letter had been sanctioned with the full authority of the party leadership, he wrote.

Mr Barrett himself, who is a candidate in next year's general election, has criticised Mr Smith for leaking the allegation to the media and says he would have been able to answer all the questions if Mr Smith had been called to give evidence first.