Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

With regard to Deputy Kenny's question about the National Forum on Europe, given that the Department's Estimate increased by 15% this year, will that additional money be expended? Does the Taoiseach expect a further increase will be needed in 2007? If so, will he outline the activity that will take place to warrant that?

I refer to the allocations for the Moriarty tribunal. The House debated a six-month extension of the tribunal previously with full rates to be paid to the lawyers involved. Will this extension be the end of the matter? Will the Taoiseach shed some light on the difference between the initial Estimate for the tribunal, which was expected to cost 14% less in 2006 than in 2005 and the revised Estimate in January 2006, which provided that the tribunal would cost 134% more in 2006 than in 2005? Will he explain this huge disparity and indicate how the Estimates could be so different? Should we believe the Estimates? Do they have a basis?

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