Renua ups ante with attack ad on Fine Gael and Michael Lowry

Renua Ireland has launched a robust negative-campaigning video against Fine Gael highlighting the party's relationship with Independent TD Michael Lowry.

A two-minute video produced by the party led by Lucinda Creighton will restoke the debate over negative campaigning.

The video, released on the Vimeo platform, highlights the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal that Mr Lowry’s actions as minister for communications at the time of the granting of the second mobile phone licence were “insidious and disgraceful”.

It continues with a graphic representation of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s recent interview with RTÉ’s This Week. Renua claims he refused to rule out Michael Lowry in government eight times during the course of the interview.

Continued relationship alleged

It also highlights what it claims are a continuing relationship and contacts between Mr Kenny and businessman and media owner Denis O'Brien.

The title of the video is “Lucinda or Lowry?”. Renua has said it is willing to join a coalition. However, it has ruled out any government involving Mr Lowry.

Relations between Ms Creighton and her former party, Fine Gael, have been taut.

Senior sources in Fine Gael have said Mr Kenny would be very reluctant to forge an arrangement with Renua due to the cool relationship he has with Ms Creighton.