A former trustee of Fine Gael has been telling the Moriarty Tribunal how the then Minister for Communications, Michael Lowry, tried to get him to increase the rent on a property owned by Ben Dunne.
Mark Fitzgerald, the son of former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald, has also described casual conversations between Denis O'Brien and leading members of Fine Gael in the days running up to the awarding of the country's second mobile phone licence.
Even though Mr Fitzgerald did not know Michael Lowry very well, the minister called him for a coffee to Powers Hotel in May 1995.
He told him Ben Dunne had bought Marlborough House, which was rented by Telecom Éireann, and that he wanted the rent increased from £5 to £10 per square foot.
He said: 'Your man Gill is involved, could you organise it?'
He was referring to Gordon Gill from Sherry Fitzgerald who was acting as arbitrator.
Mr Fitzgerald was adamant that he could not intervene.
Ben Dunne had given £170,000 to Fine Gael.
The rent was later set at £6 per square foot. Both Mr Lowry and Mr Dunne deny they made such a request.
Later today Mr Fitzgerald will give more evidence on conversations he had with Denis O'Brien in the run up to the awarding of the licence.
