Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

The total costs incurred by my Department in respect of this tribunal from 1997 to 30 September 2005 is €21,364,879. This includes fees paid to counsel for the tribunal and administration costs incurred to date since its establishment. Total payments made to the legal team were €16,052,473 up to 30 September, 2005.

As regards the projected costs for the completion of the tribunal, it is impossible to predict what costs may be awarded, and to whom, by its sole member. The overall estimate for 2005 is €10.552 million. The day to day costs for the tribunal provided for in the Estimate for 2005 amounts to €4 million. However, provision of an additional €6.5 million was made to cover costs such as report publication and some element of award of legal costs in the event that the tribunal completed its work in 2005. I propose to circulate in the Official Report the costs accruing for the tribunal in respect of each year.

Given the subject matter of this reply, I think it opportune to inform the House that this morning the Government agreed to a request to extend the deadline for completion of the tribunal. The date originally envisaged for the application of the new fees to the Moriarty tribunal was 11 January 2006. This was calculated on the basis that the tribunal's programme of work, as it stood in mid-2004, would be concluded on or about that date. Due to unforeseen circumstances that have since arisen, the extensive nature of its terms of reference and ongoing inquiries, and litigation by the parties involved, the tribunal has requested that it be given an additional amount of time to complete its work.

The matter has been discussed with the tribunal. Given the relative imminence of the conclusion of its work, it is believed that it is reasonable to facilitate its continuance until 30 June 2006. This represents an extension of five and a half months on the previously expected completion date. It is to be borne in mind that the tribunal has been in operation for eight years and is now nearing its completion.

It is expected that the new tribunals legislation will be enacted prior to 30 June 2006. Therefore, there should be no obstacle to reducing fees payable to lawyers appearing before the Moriarty tribunal after that date, in the event that it has not completed its work by then.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The costs of the tribunal accruing in respect of each year is as follows:

2005 up to 30 September = €2,721,631

2004 up to 30 September = €3,610,026

2003 up to 30 September = €3,440,954

2002 up to 30 September = €2,799,057

2001 up to 30 September = €2,242,361

2000 up to 30 September = €2,171,921

1999 up to 30 September = €2,139,665

1998 up to 30 September = €1,685,962

1997 up to 30 September = €553,303

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