Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In the body of the initial reply I gave the cost to date of the inquiry about which the questions were tabled. The cost to date up to 31 October is €33.768 million.

More generally, a former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform introduced the Commissions of Investigation Act, which can be a more appropriate means of dealing of some of these matters. The tribunals of inquiry legislation dates back to the 1920s. There is no doubt that in the context of due process and the procedural requirements in Irish law even for tribunals of inquiry, quite apart from the courts, are quite rigorous and painstaking, and are fully availed of by those against whom allegations have been made. Commissions of investigation are a means of addressing issues of public interest in a more urgent and timely fashion.

There have been other non-statutory inquires and reports were drawn up by various chairpersons that dealt well with issues. Ms Justice Maureen Harding Clark's report on the Neary situation was an excellent example of what can be done without the need for all of the accoutrements that come with a tribunal of inquiry. This House must be careful in determining if matters of public interest should be dealt with by way of an outside inquiry and that it should be done as expeditiously and as quickly as possible with reference to the taxpayers of this country as well.

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