Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

The costs incurred by my Department during 2004 in respect of the Moriarty tribunal amounted to €3,607,418. The estimated costs for the tribunal for 2005 amounts to €4 million. However, provision of an additional €6.5 million has been made to cover costs such as report publication and some element of award of legal costs in the event that the tribunal completes its work in 2005. The overall estimate for 2005 is, therefore, €10,583,000.

The total costs incurred by my Department since 1997 is €18,640,000. This includes fees paid to counsel for the tribunal and administration costs incurred to date since the establishment of the tribunal. The total payment made to the legal team was €13,613,544 up to 31 December 2004.

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