The independent TD for Tipperary North Michael Lowry has said he is willing to subject himself to rigorous and unlimited questions from fellow Deputies during the Dáil debate on the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal this week.
Mr Lowry said today the Government has yet to accede to his request for up to 50 minutes speaking time during the two-debate on the Moriarty Tribunal which begins tomorrow.
He also said he has asked for time to be allotted near the end of the debate to allow him answer questions. He argued that both should be allowed given his “exceptional circumstances”.
He said that 30 minutes would be insufficient to allow him to give his response to the findings, and his comments on an inquiry that lasted fourteen years and that had dominated his public life during that period.
The former Fine Gael minister has rejected damning findings made against him by the Tribunal, including a finding of corruption in relation to representations made by him on behalf of businessman Ben Dunne during a rent arbitration process.
The Tribunal also concluded that Mr Lowry received a total of Ir£900,000 from Esat Digifone founder Denis O’Brien O’Brien in a number of clandestine payments and that the Tipperary Deputy had “delivered” the State’s second mobile phone licence for Mr O’Brien.
Both Mr O’Brien and Mr Lowry have angrily disputed the findings.
Today Mr Lowry said that the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe had initially offered him 20 minutes on the second day of the debate but that that had been unacceptable. Following discussions with Mr Kehoe today, that had been increased to 30 minutes, which he still found unacceptable.
“I was under investigation for 14 years. I am a member of this House. Twenty minutes would not be the length of time I need to make a reasoned and considered contribution.
“I would need 45 to 50 minutes. I do not see why I as a member of this House should be restricted in this way. I am not looking for hours, I am looking for minutes,” he said.
“I want tomorrow to have the opportunity to allow every member of the House to put any question they so wish to me and to allow me the opportunity to answer the questions,” he added.