Ahern says phone licence handling `squeaky clean'

THE handling of the allocation of a second mobile phone licence by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications was "squeaky clean", the Fianna Fail leader said.

The suggestion that this could not be because a politician was involved was offensive, Mr Bertie Ahern added.

But he urged Mr Lowry to come into the House and make a comprehensive statement on the matter. "There is much innuendo, much accusation, allegations. I am sure they are wrong.

The Taoiseach said he would consider what Mr Ahern had said. Mr Bruton added that the ground rules for the competition involved a confidentiality clause.

"We now have a situation where people who agreed to a confidentiality clause when they were bidding want disclosure.

That clause does place a perfectly proper constraint on what the Minister can say in the House on the matter."

Mr Lowry answered questions in the Dail on the issue last week.