Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No, I do not. As the Deputy knows, a particular work method has been adopted by the chairman of the tribunal in an attempt to keep down costs in terms of how they would play out if the hearings were held in public. It was on that basis that he devised this particular work method, which has been effective despite the very serious imposition involved in the process going on longer than was originally anticipated based on four separate challenges, all of which were won by the chairman when it came to the hearings. New rates applied for counsel who arrived after that date. There was a concern not to put at risk the work being done up to then by existing counsel in terms of not changing those particular rates. It is the case that some counsel are currently indisposed, so it is a question of working with existing staff and, in an effort to have this completed before the end of this year, to ensure there is adequate staffing.

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