Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Regarding criticisms of the scope of the investigations, the duration of the Mahon tribunal and its cost, many of these questions are also pertinent to other tribunals yet there is not the same focus from the Taoiseach or his Ministers. The Taoiseach has answered in part, referring to what has been done or what was proposed in respect of the curtailment of costs of tribunals. The Taoiseach signalled the introduction of new daily rates applying to counsel, which were subsequently deferred, deferred again and are not applied in critical cases, including the Mahon tribunal. In 2004 I noted that the Minister for Finance indicated that the cost to date of all inquiries, completed and current, was then some €440 million. Can the Taoiseach indicate the updated figure? What do we know of the overall outlay of the State commitment, not only what is paid but what has been clocked up and will be due for payment in the future? I fear the figure will have more than multiplied the €440 million indicated by the then Minister for Finance in 2004.

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