The European Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mr Padraig Flynn, has said he does not regret his controversial Late Late Show remarks about allegations by developer Mr Tom Gilmartin that he had made a £50,000 political donation to Mr Flynn when he was a minister.
Asked about the controversy during an RTE radio interview, From Brussels to Belmullet, Mr Flynn said he "was trying to be open and transparent. If you go and you're asked something on a Late Late Show. . . and you're reticent or you're not open, you're castigated for being secretive".
All he had said was that "the matter would be dealt with by the tribunal". "That's the proper place for it," he said. Earlier in the interview, Mr Flynn said: "Sometimes you make mistakes in life. Sometimes there are remarks made that you wish you hadn't made." However, he said this did not refer to his Late Late Show remarks. ail activity". He admitted what he said about Mr Gilmartin "was not accurate" and stressed that he had phoned the show afterwards to correct that. He also wished Mr Gilmartin well: "I know him, I haven't met him for many years, and he did his best."
Asked if he ever thought "a £50,000 donation" would "overshadow" his work at the Commission, Mr Flynn said: "You must understand that political donations to political parties or to individuals - there's nothing illegal about that. There never was." Mr Flynn said he subscribed "very much" to the idea that politicians should have to declare political donations. He was "quite pleased" the Taoiseach read out to the Dail a letter he had written him ail "because it sets out that I've co-operated fully with the tribunal and that also I had an understanding with the tribunal that the matter would be confidential... I was following on exactly what the Dail had intended when it set up the tribunal."
When asked about correspondence from a Fianna Fail party officer about the donation, Mr Flynn said that was "a matter between me and the party". He said he had "no idea" whether he would be reappointed as Commissioner, and that he was "quite happy to go when the time comes".
