THE following is a statement issued last night by Arthur Cox, solicitors, on behalf of Mr Michael Lowry TD:
"As I stated following my resignation as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, the arrangements which my company, Streamline Enterprises, and I had with Dunnes Stores were and are entirely legitimate commercial arrangements.
"Some commentators are now unjustly attempting to suggest that I received improper payments for political purposes. Any such suggestion or inference is utterly false and without justification.
"I now wish to reiterate categorically that any payments and/or credit facilities which I or my company received from Dunnes Stores related solely and exclusively to the supply by me/Streamline Enterprises of refrigeration goods and services to Dunnes Stores.
"All payments - relating to me and/or Streamline Enterprises - allegedly referred to in the Price Waterhouse report were exclusively of this nature. It is an unwarranted and gross distortion of the facts to imply that the payments allegedly referred to in the Price Waterhouse report relating to me and/or Streamline Enterprises were, in any way, for political purposes.
"It is my intention when all of the facts have been assembled to ipake a personal statement to Dail Eireann in relation to my entirely commercial arrangements with Dunnes Stores. This statement will also deal with the renovation works to my home."