Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of his proposals to reduce the fees payable at tribunals. [7990/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that in July 2004, the Government approved, on the initiative of the then Minister for Finance, reduced fees for legal representation at tribunals or inquiries established from September 2004, and to the then-existing tribunals and inquiries with effect from various dates set in the light of consultations between the Attorney General and the chairpersons of each tribunal-inquiry. The lower rates have applied to the Barr tribunal since June 2005. The dates applicable to those tribunals currently sitting are as follows: Moriarty tribunal — 30 June 2006; Morris tribunal — 30 September 2006; and Mahon tribunal — 31 March 2007.

The Tribunal of Inquiry Bill 2005 which is being brought forward by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to consolidate and reform the legislation relating to tribunals of inquiry, was published on 25 November last. This Bill will provide a statutory basis, going forward, for the regulation of tribunal and third party legal fees payable by the State. In addition, the Bill incorporates a number of provisions which should improve the operational efficiency of tribunals. For example, the Bill will enable uncontested evidence, which has been supplied in written form and circulated to relevant parties, to be simply taken as if it had been "read into" the record. I understand that Second Stage of the Bill is expected to commence shortly.