Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The total figure is €36.25 million while the figure for 2008 was €4.01 million. I understand from the Comptroller and Auditor General's report that the final cost will be in the region of €100 million.

I want to ask the Taoiseach a question I asked him before. He is aware that the normal practice for tribunals is to use lawyers from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and that the highest level of salary for these officials is €85,000. Will the Taoiseach confirm that for the past four years the Moriarty tribunal has ignored that arrangement and engaged a solicitor from private practice? Can he confirm that the fees of €1,000 per day are in excess of €1.2 million for the last four years? Does he have a justification or reason for having sanctioned the use of a solicitor from a private practice when the tradition in tribunals has always been to use persons from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor? As the Taoiseach is aware, fees were set in 2002, seven years ago. Is it intended to review the pay scales of lawyers to the Moriarty tribunal?

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