Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

A number of subheads in my Department are currently showing expenditure under profile, including the tribunals. There are fluctuations in spending from month to month in this area. Under subhead K, the Moriarty tribunal, the Estimates allocation made a provision for the possible award of legal costs on completion of the work of the tribunal. That would be whatever the tribunal would deem to be a charge on the Department's subhead. We allocated a fairly large sum of money under the subhead for this year on the basis that it would be completed this year. However, as that will not be the case, the money will be returned to the Exchequer. Some €5 million has been returned already.

We are not yet aware what will be the various costs. We do not know that yet because all we have been doing for the past number of years is carrying a provision for costs. However, we do not know what that will be. I know from the Accounting Officer that the concern is whether the provision we are carrying is large enough if third party costs and so on must be paid by the State. It is a current issue, as we are examining the Estimates for 2006. It is hoped the tribunal will conclude next year and, therefore, the costs related to it will fall due. Clearly, the costs will be very large.

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