Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I answered questions on this matter last week. First, on the financial issue, expenditure of the tribunal in 2004 amounted to €3.6 million. I gave the full figures last week. In 2004 this subhead included a provision to meet the payment of legal costs arising from the award of costs to parties appearing before the tribunal, should its work be completed during the year. As the tribunal was still sitting at the end of the year these costs did not arise.

Before the former Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevy, left office, he spent a number of months working with the Attorney General to try to arrive at a final date for all the tribunals, particularly the Moriarty tribunal, so he could give additional resources while keeping the fees at a certain level. I am not sure if the Moriarty tribunal needed resources but some tribunals did to bring them to final dates. Those dates were agreed. If I recall correctly what I said last week, the Moriarty tribunal is due to finish in early 2006.

I have given dates on all the tribunals over the years and have been out by many years so I do not know when they will conclude. I am sure the new fee arrangement will come into effect if the tribunal is not finished by that date. That arrangement has been nailed down.

The Deputy's comment on interim and final reports is factual but I have no control over that.

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