Taoiseach Enda Kenny responds to questions concerning that Michael Lowry phone call from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in the Dáil minutes ago..
Enda Kenny: “The transcript that was handed in. I agree with you. If any further information is of relevance well that should be forwarded to the appropriate authorities aswell. Whether there’s validity or veracity in all of what was contained in the transcript, that’s not for me to judge. This house set up the Moriarty Tribunal to deal with a number of specific issues. And, as you’re aware, once the tribunal is set up, the house has no further function in determining the outcome of the tribunal, which in this case was reported by Moriarty two years ago.”
Micheál Martin: “Taoiseach, no-one has denied the veracity of the transcript. Nobody. So it seems to me, the transcript stands as a bona fide conversation between Mr Lowry and between Mr Kevin Phelan. I’ve already referred to the documentation that Senator David Wilson received, which details over 60 meetings that occurred between Deputy Lowry and Mr Phelan, in relation to the Doncaster deal, or another, sorry, in relation to the Doncaster deal. But it’s not for us to judge those, that particular documentation.
But suffice to say, Taoiseach, but that there’s enough new material there for this house to revisit the issue. The tribunal was established by way of motion to the house, from the then government, on subject to amendments from across the house. You know what I’m saying, when I ask you would you facilitate a re-examination of this by Moriarty.
Will you bring a motion to the house on this specific issue? Because does it not concern you, Taoiseach? And it does concern me. And you made comments about others, and they may be valid but what’s before us now, Taoiseach, what’s before us now, is material that’s emerged in the public domain, which, at the very minimum casts doubt about the level of cooperation that was afforded to the tribunal, that casts doubt over the truthfulness of the evidence that was provided to the tribunal. And it is material that the chairman did not see, prior to him coming to his conclusions.
Does that not concern you? That a tribunal established by the Oireachtas may have been fatally undermined? May be hindered? That people were having discussion in advance about people who knew was giving evidence, who wasn’t giving evidence, who wouldn’t be turning up, who would be turning up, what they would be saying. I mean these are very fundamental issues that go to the heart of what we should be involved in, in this chamber, and in this Oireachtas. And it is..you have a huge majority here, I’ve no doubt you’d have the full cooperation…”
Ceann Comhairle: “Question please, Deputy.”
Martin: “And the very basic question is will you bring a motion to the house to invite the chairman of the tribunal to examine the new material that has come into the public domain and to re-examine this particular issue?”
Kenny: “Well, I have no intention of reopening the Moriarty Tribunal or any other tribunal that is reported to the house. I’m not sure whether you’re…I didn’t realise that you seem to be amnesiac in some respects here. Because there were other claims made at other tribunals about the extent of information and knowledge of veracity over what was given at the tribunals. Obviously when somebody goes before a tribunal, they take an oath to tell the truth. Now, if there is information out there, that somebody has access to, well then I would suggest that they would bring that information to the appropriate authorities, Deputy Martin.”
Previously: “Denis, Myself, Baldy.”
Dear Mr Lowry, Please Answer The Following (Conor Ryan, Irish Examiner)
