Lowry Jnr: Hogan meeting was part of my father's job
Michael Lowry's son has reacted to the controversy surrounding a meeting between his father and Minister Phil Hogan by saying it must be a "slow news week".
The Environment Minister has been under pressure over the meeting in March last year, which took place just days after the publication of the report from the Moriarty Tribunal.
Mr Lowry's son - Michael Lowry Jnr, the mayor of North Tipperary - said the meeting with Minister Hogan was arranged to discuss the business of a local company and was simply part of his father's job.
"If you remove Michael Lowry's name from it, the focus of that meeting was on trying to save 34 jobs," Michael Lowry Jnr said.
"If it happened in any other part of the country the electorate would expect their public representative to do all in their power to ensure that those jobs were saved.
"It just so happens that when Michael Lowry's name comes into it, it becomes a bigger issue."
Meanwhile it has emerged that Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke to Minister Hogan yesterday and was satisfied that there was nothing untoward in his March 28, 2011 meeting with Deputy Lowry.
A spokesman for Mr Kenny told the Irish Examiner that the Taoiseach was satisfied following a phone call with Mr Hogan that there had been nothing improper about the meeting.
News of the meeting, six days after the publication of the Moriarty tribunal report, has apparently led to fresh tensions between the coalition partners, after Social Protection Minister Joan Burton yesterday said it would have been preferable for Minister Hogan had it not taken place.
Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Charlie Flanagan subsequently launched a stinging attack on Minster Burton in apparent retaliation for her criticism of the meeting.
In a message on his Twitter account, he asked: "Has Joan Burton a Government death wish?"
Meanwhile, two Fine Gael Cabinet members - Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Health Minister Dr James Reilly - have confirmed that Deputy Lowry was present at meetings they had with other organisations last year.
