The Moriarty tribunal’s final report found that Michael Lowry 'secured the winning' of the 1995 mobile phone licence competition for Esat Digifone when minister for communications. File photograph: CollinsThe Moriarty tribunal has entered its 30th year after racking up more than €78m in costs, prolonging the work of the payments to politicians inquiry established in 1997 that published its final report in 2011. Mr Lowry, an Independent TD since 1997, leads the group of eight Regional Independent TDs who support the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael Coalition. Mr O’Brien and Mr Lowry have always rejected such findings. At the same time, the department declined to say whether Mr Justice Moriarty was still tribunal chairman.

Source: The Irish Times January 15, 2026 12:38 UTC