The development company Monarch Properties had a tradition of making political donations to ensure that the best candidates got elected, according to a former executive.
But Philip Reilly told the Mahon Tribunal today he did not know if the company would have made payments of nearly £250,000 if they had not been looking for a rezoning in South Dublin.
Mr Reilly personally authorised £4,000 in political donations on behalf of Monarch Properties divided between six candidates in the 1992 General Election, including £1,000 for the present Tánaiste, Mary Harney.
He said he wanted strong politicians elected who would be good for Tallaght and help develop the company's shopping centre at The Square.
He was unaware that Monarch had listed these payments as being in relation to their proposed development at Cherrywood.
And he denied getting a £300,000 success fee from Monarch 1994 for Cherrywood. He said the accounting entry may refer to PR payments for the launch of the Square in Tallaght.
He said fellow executive Richard Lynn introduced him to the tradition of making political donations during the 1991 local elections.
He said Mr Lynn told him that Monarch needed to be able to talk to councillors and get their time.
But Mr Reilly denied that councillors were expected to do anything in return for their donations, although he admitted he did not know if the same amount of money would have been paid if Monarch had not been looking for a massive rezoning at Cherrywood.
He earlier denied that there were divisions in the company about the development of lands at Cherrywood in south Dublin, and rejected testimony by Frank Dunlop that Monarch executives were ‘frustrated’ at the activities of then managing director Phil Monahan.
Mr Reilly said he would be surprised if Mr Monahan had been lobbying councillors about the proposed development during the 1990s.
He said he did not know if Mr Monahan had been lobbying more senior politicians.
