From the Department of the Environment press office on April 4 after a query relating to an alleged meeting between Denis O’Brien and Phil Hogan a couple of weeks ago and any mention of Sitserv as it relates to any future water metering contracts/tenders.
The Minister had no meeting with Denis O’Brien in recent weeks or recent years for that matter. As regards, water reforms – including the Prog for Govt commitment to install water meters, this is very much a matter for Govt and the Minister will be bringing forward proposals on same for consideration of Govt in the coming weeks.
Any public contracts that might arise would of course be subject to the normal rules on procurement/tendering.
Regards,
XXXX XXXXXX
Press Office,
Room 1.52,
Custom House,
Dublin 1.
Tel: 8882638
But…on April 6:
Meanwhile, Mr Hogan and Mr O’Brien had a brief encounter at Mount Juliet Hotel last month.
The minister was having breakfast in the hotel when Mr O’Brien entered the restaurant.
“He did briefly bump into Denis O’Brien. They bumped into each other and exchanged pleasantries. They spoke for a matter of moments,” a spokesperson said.
Mr Hogan holds honorary membership of Mount Juliet Golf and Country Club in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, where Mr O’Brien has a holiday home.
Mr Hogan’s officials insist he has not held any official meeting Mr O’Brien as a minister.
Can brief be defined as an hour or two?
First telecoms and now he wants the water…..
1995
“they happened to encounter each other during the half-time interval; and they happened to arrange to meet later . . . [they] repaired to Hartigans pub, where they remained alone for some half hour and talked of nothing other than the match”
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/elaine-byrne-volumes-of-convoluted-detail-but-its-essence-was-straightforward-3074207.html
2012
““He did briefly bump into Denis O’Brien. They bumped into each other and exchanged pleasantries. They spoke for a matter of moments,” a spokesperson said.”