The editor of a local newspaper in Dublin 15 was told by property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin that he had met a number of government ministers in the D[AC]ail, the Mahon Tribunal heard today.
The claim was substantiated by the late Mr Brian Lenihan, Ms Breda Kelly, editor of the Newswestfreesheet, said.
Mr Lenihan was a minister at the time Mr Gilmartin alleged he had a meeting with a number of Cabinet ministers in February 1989.
Ms Kelly told the tribunal she may not be able to recollect some of the names Mr Gilmartin mentioned but she was sure that he said: "I've met the lot of them in Dail Eireann".
She was also confidently recalled Mr Gilmartin saying the then taoiseach, Mr Haughey was present at the meeting along with Mr Bertie Ahern, Mr Padraig Flynn, Seamus Brennan, Mr Ray Burke and Mr Brian Lenihan.
Ms Kelly said she was in regular contact with Mr Lenihan over the years and considered him a "supportive friend". Mr Gilmartin made the claim and a number of others in a lengthy phone call, Ms Kelly said.
Some time later she asked Mr Lenihan whether Mr Gilmartin had met ministers in his presence in Leinster House. "He was quite emphatic about it, he said: 'yes, yes, yes he did,'," Ms Kelly said.
Ms Kelly she said though it strange that the Mr Seamus Brennan was at the meeting because he from south Dublin and had no obvious interest in Mr Gilmartin's proposed development in west Dublin.
She asked Mr Lenihan about it and he specified that Mr Brennan was present. Mr Brennan has denied the claim.
The witness also said Mr Gilmartin had indicated he had been "financially helpful" to Fianna Fail and that Mr Liam Lawlor was "on board". Ms Kelly took the latter to mean Mr Lawlor was acting as a consultant on Mr Gilmartin's proposal to develop a shopping centre in Quarryvale.
Mr Gilmartin had also indicated to Ms Kelly that he was having difficulties in progressing matters that were of a bureaucratic nature, the tribunal heard.
Ms Kelly also told the tribunal that she had contact with Mr Owen O'Callaghan who was involved in the Quarryvale development. She told him about the call from Mr Gilmartin.
Mr O'Callaghan said: "If Tom Gilmartin rings you again don't speak to him, he's out of the picture," Ms Kelly told the tribunal.