Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this topic. Sometimes something so surreal or bizarre happens that it seems to pass us by and this is one of those topics. The Flood-Mahon tribunal was established in late 1997, initially chaired by Mr. Justice Fergus Flood until 2003 and then chaired by Mr. Justice Alan Mahon who completed its hearings and produced a final report in 2012. Mr. Justice Mahon was assisted by Judge Keys and Ms Justice Flaherty. It is difficult to comprehend that the tribunal ran for almost 17 years and after a cost of around €159 million, we are unsure as to what the outcome has been. The point has been made that the inquiry led to Revenue investigations that gained large sums of money for the Exchequer in tax settlement payments. The planning and development (No. 2) Bill based on the recommendations of the Mahon tribunal is due before the House in the near future. Some planning measures have been brought forward in the past as a result of recommendations from the Flood-Mahon tribunal.

The nightly evidence re-enactments on radio were akin to "Scrap Saturday" and the public saw a side of political life that only a handful knew existed. It certainly exposed an underbelly. Rules governing political funding and ethical standards have been developed and strengthened as a result of this tribunal. However, years later we find that some findings of the tribunal have been set aside. There is uncertainty as to what the findings were and the whole process appears to have been brought into disrepute. Owen O'Callaghan won a case against the tribunal regarding access to original documents held by the inquiry due to non-disclosure of full information. This was followed by the challenge by Joseph Murphy Jnr. and, most recently, the challenge by Mr. George Redmond. Former conclusions and adverse findings have been removed. Some findings of corruption have been removed and some witnesses who were deemed to have obstructed the tribunal will now have their costs paid.

The responsibility for this tribunal comes under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. It has cost the State dearly. It is now in a shambles. Who is responsible for this?

There are lessons to be learned. The interim and earlier reports are now clearly at variance with what will, ultimately, be the final report. It is important that the Minister shed some light on this debacle.

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