FORMER minister Mr Michael Lowry, said he had reached the pinnacle of his political career only to see it swept away from him at a moment's notice.
Mr Denis McCullough SC for the tribunal, outlined Mr Lowry's political career, which began when he was elected as TD for North Tipperary in 1987. He subsequently became a minister and also chairman of the Fine Gael party and had clearly devoted considerable time and energy into making a successful career in politics.
Mr McCullough then asked: "I take it Mr Lowry that you were a very ambitious politician. You wanted to get to the top - would that be fair to say?"
Mr Lowry said that like any professional person he had done the ground work, worked his way through the system. He had worked exceptionally hard both in his business and in politics.
Mr McCullough suggested it would have been clear to anyone who knew Mr Lowry that he was ambitious and was determined to be successful, so far as he could help it.
Mr Lowry said: "Politics is anything but certain. It is difficult to say in politics, I thought I was successful six months ago and you see where I am now.
Mr McCullough said: "Well, you're back in the Dail, Mr Lowry. You have had considerable success, I would suggest."
Mr Lowry replied: "I had reached what you could consider to be the pinnacle of my career and it was swept away from me at a moment's notice."
Asked about his term as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry said he believed it had been successful. Mr McCullough suggested Mr Lowry had set very high standards for people involved in semi-state bodies under his control.
Mr Lowry said he had sent out a message that the semi-state sector needed to constantly change and take account of the competitive forces moving into the commercial state sector.
Mr McCullough said: "You spoke out very strongly against what you described as cosy cartels, isn't that right?"
Mr Lowry replied: "That was an infamous phrase that was attributed to me, in fact one that was never made by me, but as we can see today it's one that will probably stick to me forever."
Mr McCullough suggested that Mr Lowry had advised against what he described as "sweetheart deals" in that sector.
Mr Lowry answered: "I didn't try to portray any particular image, I just did my job on a day-to-day basis and I responded to the public servants and to their wishes."