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lowryValerie O’Reilly (top) and Michael Lowry’s note to Enda Kenny

“Taoiseach, would you please consider re-appointing Valerie O’Reilly to the board of the NTA.[National Transport Authority]  A woman, bright, intelligent and not bad looking either! Michael Lowry.”

Meanwhile, readers may recall how former Environment Minister Phil Hogan met Independent TD Michael Lowry on March 28, 2011, just days after the Moriarty Tribunal found the actions of Mr Lowry were “profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking”.

Apart from the two TDs, the meeting involved representatives from Tipperary waste management company, Filmco Ltd – Jack O’Reilly and Edmond O’Reilly.

In April 2012, Juno McEnroe, in the Irish Examiner, reported:

“Jack O’Reilly, a director in Filmco, is uncle to Valerie O’Reilly, media adviser for Mr Lowry. Edmond O’Reilly, another director in Filmco, is Valerie’s brother. Ms O’Reilly confirmed the directors were her relatives. She said she worked part time for Mr Lowry but added: “I had no involvement with that meeting and was not aware of it until recent days.” She handled public relations for Mr Lowry’s 2007 election campaign as well as media queries for him after Moriarty was published.”

Exclusive: Ex-minister passes note to Taoiseach seeking ‘crony’ appointment (Daniel McConnell, Sunday Independent)

Company directors have ties to Lowry (Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner, April 6, 2012)

Related: You Can Almost Smell The Sleaze

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29 thoughts on “Lovely

  1. Soundings

    According to the NTA website, she is a board member so Michael Lowry’s note to Enda was successful.
    http://www.nationaltransport.ie/about-us/board/

    It’s not clear what expertise she brings to the role at the NTA. The 34-year old has a background in PR, and runs her own company.
    http://unicornpr.ie/news/

    Why isn’t the Opposition all over this? Michael Lowry is toxic on the national stage. The note is grubby, and appears to have been acted on, in the sense she’s still on the board. It stinks of cronyism.

    1. Paddywhack

      Cowen appointed her (when Lowry was supporting FF led government). Her term on the board is nearing an end, Lowry is asking that she be reappointed. According to today’s Sindo, ‘sources have said she has been an “excellent addition” to the NTA board since her appointment’. But that’s the Sindo.

    2. Covert

      The note says “re-appointing” with the “re” underlined, so the note was not (yet) successful. However, given such close ties to Lowry, the obvious next query is whether or not he lobbied for her original appointment. That said, if there’s an ounce of political sense left within the Government, the upshot of this note (or more particularly its discovery) is that she definitely will not be reappointed.

      1. Soundings

        Ah, you’re right, I didn’t read the Sindo article, and now see the note was passed to Enda just last week (I thought it has been passed in March 2011).

        That changes everything.

        Presumably, it was leaked by Enda’s department to the Sindo (Michael Lowry is unlikely to have leaked it after all). The note is embarrassing to Lowry because it portrays him as a cronyist knuckle-dragger and sexist, to boot. FG’s Noel Coonan came 2nd in the Tipp North general election in 2011, but with FF having had a slight rebound and SF in the 20s, Noel’s position is looking extremely shaky for 2016.

  2. Milo

    And yet the Electorate of Tipp consistently vote him in despite the fact they know he’s a grubby hom been politician. In fact that’s the reason they vote him in. That’s democracy for you…

    1. More_Bermuda_than_Berlin

      It says much about trust in central Government that people will continue to vote for a man like Lowry coz they consider him the devil they know

      1. Sancho

        “Ah, he’s a good lad. Gets the roads fixed and knows how to look after his own. Sure, who wouldn’t look for a little something on the side. Sure it’s only human nature. Besides, he’s better than the rest of those gombeens up there in Dublin. They don’t care about us. If we didn’t look after ourselves, who would!?”

        1. Sheila

          Don’t forget the medical card, he’s great at getting the medical card sorted.

          I’m embarrassed to be from N Tipp with that fupper so well supported there.

    1. Llareggub

      Yes me too. Wasn’t there all that ‘business’ with Denis Chubby Fingers O’Brien and Ben Dunne Nothing Wrong. How much did that tribunal cost?

      Shysters.

  3. ahyeah

    Casual tone and presentation of that note shows just how close Lower still is to top ranks of FG. Didn’t they promise to completely reform politics? Utter BS.

    1. Soundings

      + 50,000 (euros worth of printer toner cartridges which SF’s Aengus O’Snodaigh “used” over a 24 month period )

  4. Jane

    I’m glad that he didn’t try to gloss over or ignore the benefits that her good looks can bring to office – it would be most remiss of him, really. I’ve had enough of recomendations of women to state boards that refuse to state their main qualifications.

  5. Clampers Outside!

    Reading this again, it’s truly depressing that a proven corrupt politician like himself is even allowed near the Taoiseach or in the door of the Dail…. and the people are supposed to have faith in their government, right yeah FFS.

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