A number of meetings between former minister Mr Ray Burke and Meath builder Mr Tom Brennan in 1985 were merely "chit-chats" about politics, the Flood Tribunal was told today.
Mr Burke described Mr Brennan as a "political junkie".
At the time of the meetings in May and June, Mr Brennan was in dispute with two financial institutions and his solicitor. The dispute centred around Mr Brennan’s company Canio Ltd and land in Sandyford, Co Dublin.
The tribunal heard the land had been put up as security for two separate business deal.
The entries in Mr Brennan’s diary at the time showed that he held a number of urgent meetings with various financial and legal advisers. The diary also showed he held a number of meetings with Mr Burke.
However, Mr Burke denied today he was meeting Mr Brennan in relation to the matter of the Sandyford lands. He said the purpose of the meetings were to discuss forthcoming local authority elections.
He said he was meeting Mr Brennan for the purpose of "having a chit-chat" about how things were going and about organising various canvassing teams. "All he wanted to do was talk about politics," Mr Burke said.
Mr Burke continues to be questioned by his legal team this morning.
