Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The question of legal fees was settled in 2002. A particular issue arose with this tribunal regarding an inadvertent rate of €2,500 per day agreed with senior counsel, which should have been fixed at €2,250 per day. I have replied extensively on that to various questions in the House. A reduction of 8% was imposed last year and a further 15% reduction was imposed this year. I understand and acknowledge the point that the legal costs of proceedings of this duration mount up considerably. On that basis the House has been prepared, for the purposes of ensuring that the tribunal would complete its work in a short period of time, to have this matter finalised by now or imminently. I understand there is only one other witness available to give evidence. Assuming that does not have an impact in terms of calling other people as a result, the finalisation of the report could proceed.

I am at a disadvantage in that I am not in a position to comment on the work of the tribunal in so far as I do not wish anything I say to interfere with the independence of the tribunal and its independent functioning. It was established by the Oireachtas and it is ultimately a matter for the Oireachtas to finalise its judgments in all these matters in so far as finality is not achieved at the earliest possible date.

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