A COMPREHENSIVE statement and supporting documentation detailing every payment Mr Ben Dunne made to Mr Michael Lowry was handed to the tribunal before it began, the former minister stressed yesterday.
Mr Dunne's evidence to the tribunal on payments to Mr Lowry was not "a revelation" as Mr Lowry had already made his evidence available, he said.
Mr Lowry, the Independent TD for North Tipperary, made his remarks as he was called by the tribunal for the first time.
"During the previous hearings, there was a perception "that evidence given to the tribunal by previous witnesses, and in particular Mr Bernard Dunne, that this was a revelation, said Mr Lowry.
"But I just want to make if clear that in actual fact the payments he mentioned at that particular time in his evidence to the tribunal, I had previously, and before I was aware of this evidence, made that information available to the tribunal."
Mr Denis McCullough SC, the tribunal's counsel, agreed Mr Lowry had made a comprehensive statement and the tribunal was in no doubt on those matters.
Mr Lowry first outlined his career in the refrigeration business, describing how he had joined Butler Refrigeration in 1971 as an apprentice engineer.
He set up a sales division which rapidly expanded and he went on to become sales manager and eventually sales director with the company. The firm's success meant it had to move to new premises in Thurles.
During his time in charge of the sales department, Mr Lowry usually approached Quinnsworth, L&M and Dunnes Stores two to three times a week.
"I could see that the real growth area in the l970s was not with the independent retailers, but rather with the multiple groups.
"l made a policy decision that I would seek additional business from one of the multiples in Ireland."
A problem arose unexpectedly with refrigeration units fitted to a supermarket branch in Clonmel. The supplier had let Dunnes down and a company executive, Mr Bill McGuinness, telephoned Mr Lowry and gave him the opportunity of helping out.
He promised that if Mr Lowry assisted in this emergency he would be put on the mailing list for further business.
"We did it with all due haste, because it was an opportunity I was looking for and seeking for many, many years," said Mr Lowry.
Mr McGuinness was true to his word and Butler Refrigeration received additional work from Dunnes Stores. Work for Dunnes continued to grow over the following years, be said.
Mr McCullough then asked Mr Lowry if he had met Mr Ben Dunne during this time. Mr Lowry said that as the front man for the company, along with the managing director Mr Matt Butler, his contact was with the main managers of Dunnes Stores.
But in relation to fixing budgets and price structures there were times when the two men would have met Mr Dunne.
"Mr Dunne was never the easiest man to get a meeting with and effectively the meetings were irregular or they were arranged to suit the availability of Mr Dunne," he said.