Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. The sum of €420 million is an extraordinary figure over such a relatively short period. I agree with the Minister that every party needs to have natural justice and the truth needs to be sought.

However, I wonder whether such a cost should be borne, ultimately by the taxpayer, in seeking truth and justice, regardless of the subject matter. I think we all agree that these are important issues that should be the subject of tribunals of inquiry and commissions of investigation. However, does Deputy Donohoe, in his role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, believe there is now a case to be made for these costs to be considered? I imagine the vast bulk of them are legal costs which accrue to legal practices. Has the Minister given any thought to the idea that we need to find some mechanism whereby truth and justice are sought and reported on in a way that does not put such a burden on the taxpayer? I take the point the Minister may make about the relatively recent referendum and so on but I do not believe that the Irish taxpayer wants to continue to bear these costs, particularly if they are, in the main, legal costs. There may now be some need for reform of this process because it is arguable that it is unsustainable.