John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 151: To ask the Taoiseach the costs paid from Exchequer funds to 31 December 2004 of all commissions, inquiries and tribunals commenced since 1995 by his Department; the title of the commission, inquiry and tribunal; the estimated date of completion of same; the estimated final cost of each commission, inquiry and tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18946/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Costs relating to the McCracken Tribunal, Dunnes payments, the Moriarty Tribunal, payments to Messrs. Haughey and Lowry, and the Independent Commission of Inquiry have been made from Exchequer funds by my Department in the period to which the Deputy refers. The total cost to 31 December 2004 for each is given in the following table:

The McCracken Tribunal, Dunnes payments, was completed in 1997. The Moriarty Tribunal is expected to be completed by 11 January 2006. The estimated costs for the tribunal for 2005 amounts to €10.552 million, giving total expected costs to the end of 2005 of €29.195 million. However, €6.5 million of this estimate is to cover costs, such as report publication and some element of award of legal costs in the event that the tribunal completes its work in 2005. As regards estimated future liabilities for costs, it is impossible to predict what costs may be awarded and to whom by the sole member of the tribunal.

The Independent Commission of Inquiry is expected to conclude in June 2005. An allocation of €257,000 has been included in the 2005 Estimates to cover the work of the commission bringing final costs to the end of 2005 of €3,320,145.