Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I refer to my notes of what the Taoiseach stated here previously when I put the matter to him. The Taoiseach claimed that the recommended reduction in fees for barristers might result in their being driven away from the Moriarty tribunal. On what basis did the Taoiseach give that answer? Were there threats to walk away delivered either orally or signalled in any way by any of the counsel attending at the Moriarty tribunal? If there were, whether overt, hinted in some way or by whatever means of communications, why would the State not have face down such a threat? It just does not ring true and I am concerned because it runs contrary to everything else the State is apparently about in terms of the payments of fees, salaries, expenses and everything else. Why would a small cohort of people be immune and, in some way, protected from all of that? It just does not make sense. Was some communication or means of expression employed by some of those attending the tribunal that they would walk off the site if the reduced fees undertaken by the Taoiseach's predecessor were implemented? While the official reply from the sole member does not give the certainty one would like, is the Taoiseach in any better position today to suggest when this tribunal process will end?

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