Are Fine Gael corrupt?

In the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Joe Higgins said the revelations about the sponsorship of a Fine Gael golf event by Denis O'Brien amounted to a corruption of Government.

"Two months before awarding the most valuable contract in the history of this state by Fine Gael in government; the private individual that was desperately looking for it was lubricating the throats of Fine Gael grandees," Mr Higgins said. "Isn't it obvious to everybody that it was to lubricate the license process, that this was all about."

Around the time that Michael Lowry was fixing the licensing process for Denis O' Brien, Mr O' Briens Esat Digifone prevented public display of its sponsorship of a Fine Gael golf fundraiser by hurriedly requesting the return of promotional material.

Before March 1995, Mr O’Brien had never donated to Fine Gael. However, in the 16 months from March 1995 to June 1996, he made contributions totalling £22,140 to the party. Well over half this was paid before the result of the mobile phone competition was announced in October 1995.

The last donation was for £3,000 for the Fine Gael National Golf Classic in June 1996.

If these allegations prove true, then it becomes clear that the last Fine Gael led coalition government was to quote Fintan O' Toole, "As bent as a Brazilian free kick." Five members of the current government, including taoiseach Enda Kenny, sat at the cabinet table with Michael Lowry during the corruption which led to Mr O Briens winning of the now infamous mobile license.