Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In his response to the questions the Taoiseach has indicated a certain level of fee payment. Does this suggest to him that anything at all like the order of overall fee expenditure in the Mahon case will be reached, as speculated by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell? The figures cited suggest a figure much lower but this is not to suggest it is any more acceptable. What is the Taoiseach's position on the decision to introduce the lower fees as of 31 March 2007, which is later this week? Will that position be honoured? How many times now has a decision been taken to allow for the higher fees to continue? If I recall correctly, there was at least one deferral in the course of 2006. Are we now to face yet another deferral of the reduced level of fee payment?

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is party to the establishment of the core team. However, the Department of the Taoiseach is not represented on that team. I understand that officials from the Departments of Finance and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are participating. Why is the Department of the Taoiseach not represented? When is it expected the core team will substantively report on its review of the fees that apply in the case of the Mahon tribunal? Is it addressing fees in general that apply to other tribunals, particularly those that are currently sitting, not just those that may be established in the future?

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