Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We are all agreed that tribunals are an expensive way of carrying out investigations. It is not possible, however, to quantify the overall cost of this particular tribunal until it has concluded its work and third party costs are known. The tribunal has always insisted in response to any queries from the Department that any attempt to quantify third party costs at this point could lead to conjecture and inferences being drawn, which could affect the rights of persons affected by the tribunal's inquiries. Unfortunately, until matters are completed, the report made and third party costs adjudicated upon, I cannot give that figure.

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