Renua ups ante with attack ad on Fine Gael and Michael Lowry

Two-minute video from Lucinda Creighton’s party to stir up negative-campaigning debate

Renua Ireland release a video highlighting what they say is a repeated refusal by the Taoiseach to rule out including Michael Lowry TD in the next government. Video: Renua Ireland

Renua Ireland has launched a robust negative-campaigning video against Fine Gael highlighting the party's relationship with Independent TD Michael Lowry.

A two-minute video produced by the party led by Lucinda Creighton will restoke the debate over negative campaigning.

The video, released on the Vimeo platform, highlights the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal that Mr Lowry’s actions as minister for communications at the time of the granting of the second mobile phone licence were “insidious and disgraceful”.

Renua Ireland has launched a   video against Fine Gael highlighting the party’s relationship with  Michael Lowry. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Renua Ireland has launched a video against Fine Gael highlighting the party’s relationship with Michael Lowry. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times

It continues with a graphic representation of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s recent interview with RTÉ’s This Week. Renua claims he refused to rule out Michael Lowry in government eight times during the course of the interview.

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Continued relationship alleged

It also highlights what it claims are a continuing relationship and contacts between Mr Kenny and businessman and media owner Denis O'Brien.

The title of the video is “Lucinda or Lowry?”. Renua has said it is willing to join a coalition. However, it has ruled out any government involving Mr Lowry.

Relations between Ms Creighton and her former party, Fine Gael, have been taut.

Senior sources in Fine Gael have said Mr Kenny would be very reluctant to forge an arrangement with Renua due to the cool relationship he has with Ms Creighton.

Harry McGee

Harry McGee

Harry McGee is a Political Correspondent with The Irish Times