The idea of a national commercial radio station offering an alternative source of news to RTE was dreamed up by Mr Ray Burke without recourse to his officials in the Department of Communications or the demands of the public.
This is the clear inference to be drawn from the tribunal's current examination of the origins of commercial broadcasting, in which a number of senior departmental witnesses are being called to give evidence.
In the 1970s and 1980s broadcasting was one of the most controversial issues in Irish politics. The airwaves teemed with up to 70 pirate broadcasters and there were numerous calls to set up local radio stations. RTE, which held a monopoly on news, was in constant conflict with Fianna Fail over allegations of political bias against the party.
Legislation to shut down the pirates was drawn up in 1977 but took more than a decade to enact. Fine Gael and Labour brought forward proposals for local radio when in power but spent too much time arguing over the content to have them implemented.
Mr Burke took over the communications portfolio in March 1987, shortly after Fianna Fail returned to power. His civil servants dusted off the existing proposals, which allowed for the awarding of licences by the Minister after consultation with an advisory committee.
But Mr Burke wanted no fettering of his powers. In May 1987 he expressed unhappiness at having to give reasons for not accepting the advice of the committee. At this stage there was no mention by the Minister or anyone else of setting up a national radio station.
In early October, the Government gave Mr Burke the goahead for the licensing of local and community stations. There was still no mention of national radio.
Then, at the end of October, came the first notice of Mr Burke's intention to establish a national radio station. One of the Minister's senior officials recorded the new development in a memo, adding that the Minister had told him the Government had taken the decision. There is, however, no documentary evidence to indicate that the Government had considered the matter at that time.
As the tribunal heard yesterday, the proposal for a national station "came out of a clear, blue sky". So did a new stipulation from the Minister that the new stations should provide a minimum 20 per cent of news and current affairs in their output.
Things then moved quickly. A Bill that had been hanging around for more than six years was whipped into shape in weeks.
In November, the Cabinet passed the proposed legislation. But there was still some unease, particularly in the Department of Finance. The Minister for Finance, Mr Ray MacSharry, wrote to Mr Burke in December saying the national franchise should be awarded by tender to the highest bidder. This would generate funds for the Exchequer, he argued.
However, Mr Burke rejected his argument, saying this would mean that only the "well heeled" would be able to afford to get involved. In contrast, Mr Burke's option would give everyone "an equal chance to get access to the airwaves".
The eventual successful bidders, Century Radio, were as "well heeled" as you could get - its founders were a millionaire businessman, a high-profile show business promoter and the wealthy son-in-law of Mr Charles Haughey.
The tribunal resumes hearing the evidence of Department witnesses on Tuesday.