Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Perhaps I can assist the Taoiseach on this matter. The recently published Comptroller and Auditor General's report indicates that the final cost of the Moriarty tribunal, including third party costs, will be in the region of €100 million, which speaks for itself. The cost for 2008 was €4.1 million. I would like if Dáil committees, properly resourced and empowered, could do this work in future. Regardless of how cynical people are about their politicians they do like to see them do work on their behalf. There are previous experiences in the Oireachtas of where this applied.

The Estimates for the Taoiseach's Department in 2009 provided a cut of 25% in funding to the Moriarty tribunal. Has the Department been able to operate within that reduction? Also, how much has been spent in 2009 to date in this regard?

See this speech in context