Michael Lowry
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- See Michael Lowry (actor) for the American soap opera actor.
| Michael Lowry TD | |
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| In office 1987 – present |
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| Constituency | Tipperary North |
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| Born | March 13, 1953  County TipperaryIreland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Independent, formerly Fine Gael |
| Religion | unknown |
Michael Lowry (Irish: Micheál Ó Labhraí; born 13 March 1953) is an Irish politician.
Michael Lowry was born in County Tipperary. He was educated in Thurles CBS and was elected to Tipperary North Riding County Council in 1979 . In 1987 he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for Fine Gael.
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[edit] Minister for Transport, Energy & Communications
In 1993 he became Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. In 1994 he was appointed Minister for Transport, Energy & Communications in the Rainbow Coalition.
[edit] Ben Dunne Scandal
A succession of controversies broke during his period of office, these included the granting of a mobile phone licence to Esat Telecom, plans for the Dublin Light Rail System and the closure of rural post offices - these culminated with accusations by Lowry of a cosy cartel operating in the public sector. At the McCracken Tribunal it was revealed that supermarket tycoon Ben Dunne had paid IR£395,000 for an extension to Lowry's home in Tipperary. This allegation prompted Lowry's resignation from the Cabinet in November 1996 . When John Bruton announced that Lowry would not be allowed stand as a Fine Gael candidate at the next election he resigned from the Party. The Tribunal concluded that Lowry had evaded tax.
[edit] Independent candidate
At the following election Lowry announced that he would stand as an Independent candidate. The investigation of payments to Lowry is one of the remits of the Moriarty Tribunal which has been sitting since 1997 . In early 2007, Lowry announced that he had made a full and final settlement of all outstanding payments with the Revenue Commissioners.
In the general elections of 1997, 2002 and 2007 Lowry topped the poll in his constituency. He was an able and prominent administrator in the Gaelic Athletic Association in the early 1980's as Chairman of the Tipperary County Committee.[citation needed] Later, as chairman of the Semple Stadium Development Committee, he was largely instrumental in raising the necessary funds for the re-furbishment of the Stadium in preparation for the All-Ireland Centenary Hurling final in 1984.[citation needed] His GAA involvement was generally regarded as an important platform for his high political profile and success as an independent candidate in all subsequent elections to the Dáil.[citation needed]
Lowry has also made generous contributions to the arts and is believed to be one of the contributors to the fund for the commissioning of an art work by British artists Gilbert and George which is to be located at the gable wall of the old church in Knock, Co. Mayo, the reputed site of the 1879 apparition of the Blessed Virgin, saints and angels.[citation needed]
[edit] Political career
| Preceded by Brian Cowen |
Minister for Transport, Energy & Communications 1994–1996 |
Succeeded by John Bruton |
