Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

However, we have never heard about many others who were also paid significant legal fees. Some conducted background investigations but others merely reviewed discovery, which is time consuming work that could have been done at a much lower cost.

This Bill is being brought before the House on foot of recommendations by the Law Reform Commission, which produced a detailed report on the current operation and proposed a number of reforms. Tribunals have been a regular feature of Irish political life since the foundation of the State and have caused several Governments to fall.

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