Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the costs which have accrued to date to his Department in respect of the Tribunal Into Payments to Politicians and Related Matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30240/10]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the total cost accrued to date by his Department arising from the Tribunal Into Payments to Politicians and Related Matters at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32320/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach Taoiseach the total cost to his Department of the Tribunal Into Payments to Politicians and Related Matters since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32348/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together.

The total expenditure by my Department from the establishment of the Moriarty tribunal to the end of September 2010 was €40.63 million.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We had some discussions about this previously and I am aware that a joint letter was sent to the sole member of the tribunal. Mr. Justice Moriarty has formally stated that his preference is to publish a single final report. Does the Taoiseach have any information from the tribunal on when the judge might be in a position to publish the final report?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think I have had any correspondence since the last time we discussed this here.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Does the Taoiseach have an indication of the cost to the State of the tribunal in 2010? It was €4.1 million in 2008, and my reckoning is that it will be approximately €4 million this year. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General last year indicated that the final cost, including third-party costs, could be in the region of €100 million. Does the Taoiseach have an assessment of the final cost?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No. The Moriarty tribunal has not yet considered the question of third-party costs and the sole member has indicated he will not do so until after the tribunal has completed its final report. This is to avoid conjecture and the drawing of inferences on the possible findings of the tribunal. Even after the sole member has made a determination of the costs, the process by which they are recovered is lengthy and unlikely to be completed this year.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There have been newspaper reports that the final witness the tribunal wants to question, Mr. Andersen, is to appear before it next week. Is the Taoiseach aware of this, or has it been confirmed to him? Does he have any indication of how long the taking of evidence from that witness will take? Can he tell us whether that witness sought an indemnity from the Government in respect of his appearance at the tribunal? Can he confirm, as has been reported, that the Government refused such an indemnity? Does he have any knowledge of reports that a prominent business person, who has also been a witness at the tribunal, has provided an indemnity for that witness?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's questions have gone somewhat beyond the scope of the original question.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The tribunal is independent of my office, and any correspondence between the tribunal and the witness is a matter for the tribunal. As the Deputy said, no indemnity has been provided by the State in respect of these matters.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This morning there was an indication of tribunal judges' salaries of the order of €177,554, plus expenses, and that there are particular conditions with regard to travel expenses for trips of more than six miles. Can the Taoiseach clarify the details of the entitlements of tribunal judges, not only in terms of their salaries, but with a breakdown of the terms and conditions of their expenses? Do these travel expense allowances apply to the Moriarty tribunal and, if so, is the Taoiseach in a position to outline how much has been involved over its duration?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware that is an issue that arises with regard to the Moriarty tribunal, to which these questions pertain.