Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will appreciate that it is not proper for me to comment on the proceedings or ongoing work of the tribunal. It is a matter between the tribunal and the witness to whom the Deputy referred as to when that witness will appear. I understand from when I last spoke to the sole member about this matter that there is ongoing correspondence, but I do not have any more information than I did then. I do not have any ongoing or daily contact with the tribunal as to how the matter is proceeding.

In regard to fees, I can confirm that fees paid to the tribunal's legal team were reduced both last year and this year. They were reduced by 8% on 1 March 2009 and further reduced by 15% this year, except for one lower level which was reduced by 6.5%. In other words, the fees to the legal team have been reduced by a total of 21.8%, except for the lower level fee which was reduced by some 14%.

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