Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for that. What elements of costs for the Moriarty tribunal have been paid out to date? It was decided in July that the legal counsel to the tribunal would no longer be paid once public hearings were completed. The Government informed the Departments to which the tribunals report that tribunal legal teams, including the €2,700 a day senior counsel, should be let go. Given that the Moriarty tribunal has not sat since May, can the Taoiseach confirm that legal counsel has not been retained by the tribunal since July as promised by the Minister for Finance? It was the view of the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, which I share, that the judges should work on their reports without the assistance of the legal staff who are on generous daily rates of payment. That could save the taxpayer up to a further €1 million. Can the Taoiseach confirm that legal counsel has not been retained by the Moriarty tribunal? Can he confirm that legal staff have been withdrawn on the basis of the comments of the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, that the judges should work on their reports themselves once the public hearings were completed? If that is not the case, why not?

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