The former Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Michael Lowry tonight said he was obliged under EU competition rules to direct Eircom to provide Esat with certain facilities.
In a statement issued tonight Mr Lowry said: "I had no option but to direct Eircom to provide Esat with facilities to which they are entitled. To have done otherwise would have exposed State to a claim that it was obstructing the implementation of a European Services Directive."
Mr Lowry said he had a responsibility as Minister to uphold the European Commission's position on competition and deregulation.
As Minister, Mr Lowry made the decision to the second mobile phone licence to Esat in 1995.
The granting of the State's second mobile licence was scrutinised by the European Commission which found nothing wrong in the procedure.
>