Mr Ray Burke has denied he discussed setting up a national radio station with Century owner Mr Oliver Barry when he was first raising the issue with government.
Mr Barry held a meeting with another future Century owner, Mr John Mulhern, broadcaster Gay Byrne and Mr Barry's solicitor Mr Enda Marren on November 6th, 1987, and the issue of a national radio licence was raised, the tribunal heard.
The government was first told about the licence on October 28th and on November 16th a memo was presented outlining the proposal, Mr Burke said.
On November 3rd, a senior civil servant wrote to Mr Burke about difficulties and delays with publishing the broadcasting Bill.
"I never had a reason for discussing it with Mr Barry and I never did," he said. He added he understood the group was going for a Dublin radio licence.
Handwritten minutes of the meeting showed a reference to a national radio licence which was underlined, said Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, for the tribunal.
"They knew at this point in time there was going to be a national licence," Mr Hanratty said.
Mr Burke replied: "If they did, they didn't know it from me. Nobody knew about this other than members of the Government and the officials in the Department, until publication."
Mr Burke said he had no recollection of Mr Barry telling him he was interested in a national licence. He said Mr Barry was a political supporter, a friend and a constituent of his.
It would have surprised him if Mr Barry had discussed the issue with other people interested in a national licence, Mr Burke said.
"I never discussed that with Mr Barry and I would have had no reason to discuss it. While he was a friend, he was a man I saw on a regular basis or even a semi-regular basis at that time. I never discussed it with him."
Mr Burke also told the tribunal plans for a new national radio station were speeded up by RTE's "attitude".
"RTE were, to a very large extent, responsible for bringing it on themselves," he said.
He referred to strike action by RTÉ unions and successful opposition to efforts by a previous government to introduce legislation for local radio. The government of 1987-89 would not be "dictated to", Mr Burke said.
However, Mr Burke said proposals for a national radio franchise were not intended to undermine RTÉ.