Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In the latter part of 2004, the sole member of the tribunal formed a view that, in the context of increased pressures on the tribunal, a solicitor with experience in commercial practice and litigation from the private sector was required in addition to the tribunal's existing solicitor on secondment from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. As the Department wished to avoid the cost of two solicitors, it was agreed that instead of an additional solicitor, the private sector solicitor would replace the solicitor from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. That appointment was expected to be of limited duration in view of the then expectation of the completion of the tribunal's work.

Sanction was obtained from the Department of Finance and a rate of €1,000 per diem agreed, which is also the rate paid to solicitors at the Mahon tribunal. The private sector solicitor was to be recruited by the tribunal. We are informed by the tribunal that he was recruited by interview process, his appointment being at the discretion of the sole member, subject to the sanction of the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance. The sole member has assured the Departments that when public sittings are conclusively completed the role of the legal team is likely to diminish.

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