Micheal Martin stood by his past criticism of Michael Lowry as he defended negotiating the programme for government with the controversial independent TD.
Mr Martin once called on Tipperary North TD Mr Lowry to resign from the Dail after a corruption investigation heavily criticised his conduct.
During at times heated exchanges with reporters on Sunday, the Fianna Fail leader was challenged on how he could justify striking a coalition deal with Mr Lowry, who chaired the Regional Independents’ negotiating team, given the damning findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.
The tribunal, which was established in 1997, examined payments to former Irish premier Charles Haughey and Mr Lowry and other matters relating to the contentious awarding of a mobile phone operating licence in Ireland.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin faced reporters’ questions on Sunday evening (Gareth Chaney/PA)
Among its findings, the tribunal criticised former Fine Gael minister Mr Lowry’s behaviour as “profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking”.
The 70-year-old politician, who has always denied wrongdoing, has served as an independent TD since leaving Fine Gael in the 1990s.
Pressed on the matter on Sunday, Mr Martin stressed that Mr Lowry would not be a minister in the new coalition.
He also made clear he stood by his past criticism of Mr Lowry but insisted he had to respect the mandate he has repeatedly secured from voters in Tipperary.
Mr Martin also suggested that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had limited options for coalition partners, as he claimed Labour and the Social Democrats were “not disposed to going into government”.
“First of all, what I said back then stands, what was revealed in the Moriarty Tribunal was shocking and was wrong, and I condemned it at the time and still do,” he said.
“The people of Tipperary and the people of a number of other constituencies have elected independents. I have an overriding obligation now to form a government and to work to form a government, and it’s with quite a number of independents, not just Michael Lowry, but all the others that get forgotten about in all of the assessment of this and commentary on this.”
He added: “So we have, yes, negotiated with Regional Independent group.
“They elected Michael Lowry as their chair. It was clear the Labour Party and the Social Democrats were not really in a position or disposed to going into government. That’s the reality of that.
“I’m determined to form a government that lasts five years, and I’m going to do that, and likewise in the last government we enabled it to go five years.
“And I don’t in any way condone what happened or the actions that were covered by the Moriarty Tribunal, but the people of Tipperary have elected Michael Lowry as well, we can’t ignore that. I can’t ignore the mandates that independents have received.”
Mr Martin claimed a negative “agenda” was being pursued to criticise the government before it was even officially appointed.
“It’s as if a lot of people in the commentary world are very disappointed with the outcome of the election,” he said.
“And from day one, it’s been negativity all the way towards this government, and it hasn’t even been established. There needs to be a bit of balance here.
“Michael Lowry is not in government, he was nominated by the Regional Independent group to chair their group for the negotiations.
“We met them, we met the negotiating team, and met all of the independents myself before we got down to negotiation. And we’ve negotiated a policy platform, which I think is a good, positive policy platform for the next five years, and that’s it.
“I mean, as I said, the alternatives facing us are very much determined by the decision of the Irish people in the Dail that they’ve re-elected with quite a number of independents, with quite a number of small parties, and with three parties in around 20% each.
“And that means there will be coalition governments formed now and well into the future.”
Last week, Mr Lowry accused members of the media of trying to undermine his mandate.
Asked whether he could commit not to engage in behaviour similar to that outlined in the Moriarty Tribunal, he said: “The media has been over-consumed by this. You have given the past month trying to undermine my position and the very strong mandate I got from the people of Tipperary and north Kilkenny.
“You’ve been ranting for the last month in your publications. Let me say I enjoy the confidence of my group. I also enjoy the confidence of the Taoiseach (Simon Harris) and Tanaiste (Micheal Martin) in the negotiations that I had.”
He added: “Unlike you, they respected the mandate that I have from the people.”