Michael Lowry has described a raid by the Revenue Commissioners on his home as a 'fruitless exercise'. The raid is linked to an investigation into the financial affairs of the now Independent TD.

The Irish Independent says the Revenue decision to search the house this week was extremely unusual, according to tax experts. They said Revenue officials sought warrants only under rare circumstances.

The paper had reported that revenue officials called to his home at Holy Cross in Co. Tipperary last week but that he was overseas. They then decided to call back to the property this week.

This is a claim Mr. Lowry denies - saying he was not out of the country last week and he did not get any other visit from Revenue.

Lowry stood down from government in 1996

The Revenue Commissioners has said that it cannot discuss individual cases.

Speaking on Tipp FM, Mr. Lowry described how the search was conducted by up to 15 officers from Revenue on Tuesday.

Lowry was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for Tipperary North in the 1987 General Election. In 1993 he became Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party.

In 1996, he stood down from government and resigned from the Fine Gael Party. He continued his political career as an Independent TD.