A Fianna Fáil senator told Mr Frank Dunlop that the Flood tribunal was tapping his phone and he should be careful about talking to politicians, Mr Dunlop has told the tribunal.
Mr Dunlop says Sen Don Lydon made the claim several years ago, in a conversation regarding political contributions he made to the politician.
Mr Dunlop alleges he paid Sen Lydon a bribe of £3,000 to sign a motion proposing the rezoning of lands at Carrickmines in 1992.
Sen Lydon acknowledges receiving two political contributions from the lobbyist but denies there was anything untoward about the donations.
Mr Lydon, from Stillorgan, Dublin, says in his statement to the tribunal that he has received many political contributions over the years but has never received any money in connection with his support for rezoning motions.
Asked yesterday about this, Mr Dunlop said he had given his evidence under oath and in public. He would do it again if required.
Mr Lydon claims to have received two political contributions from Mr Dunlop - £420-£430 during the last council elections in 1999 and £1,000 during the Seanad election campaign in 1993. He says Mr Dunlop rang a few years ago to remind him of the latter payment, which he (Mr Lydon) had forgotten about.
Mr Dunlop confirmed he had paid Mr Lydon £420 by cheque in 1999. Asked if the payment was solicited, he said it arose from a discussion between the two men on the necessity for support during election campaigns. He described the payment as a political donation.
Regarding the larger payment, Mr Dunlop said he accepted it was a political contribution. It was paid by cheque in January 1993. However, it was Mr Lydon who had rung him, and not the other way round. After receiving his call, sometime after the tribunal started in 1997, he had gone to Sen Lydon's workplace and they had a discussion in the senator's car, in the car-park of St John of Gods, Stillorgan.
Mr Dunlop said the main reason Sen Lydon said he called was to warn him that the tribunal was tapping his phone. He should be careful about what he said about anyone, including politicians.
Asked if Sen Lydon had told him the basis for what he was saying, Mr Dunlop said he was told: "Take it from me, Frank, this is what's happening. People have to do what they have to do."
Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, assured Mr Dunlop that neither his nor anyone else's phone was being tapped by the tribunal. Mr Dunlop hadn't heard from Sen Lydon since, except for receiving a condolence card and a Christmas card.
Mr Dunlop also claims he paid Sen Lydon £1,000 in cash in May 1991, shortly after the rezoning vote on Quarryvale in west Dublin. He described this yesterday as an "acceptable political donation".