Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the modules that are outstanding and remain to be dealt with by the Morris tribunal; when he expects the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11445/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Morris tribunal was established by instrument of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, made on 24 April 2002, S.I. 175 of 2002. Its wording reflects the wording of a resolution passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 March 2002 to the effect that ten definite matters — numbered items (a) to (j) — of urgent public importance were to be the subject of inquiry.

The systematic approach adopted by the tribunal has been to progress its work on a modular basis, with each module being related in so far as practicable to individual items numbered (a) to (j) in its terms of reference. The tribunal reported on item (e), managing explosives, on 2 July 2004. It reported on item (a), Peoples' extortion calls, and part of item (b), the Barron investigation, on 19 May 2005.

My understanding is that the tribunal has completed its investigations into three further items, namely, items (d), arrest and detention of Mark McConnell and Michael Peoples, (g), Ardara arson attack, and (i), Burfoot arrests and detentions. I understand that reports on these three elements of its work will be presented to me in the near future.

On 21 March 2006, counsel to the tribunal read out the opening statement concerning its public hearings on the detention module of its work, which embodies item (f) and the remainder of item (b). The remaining items are: items (c) allegations of harassment of the McBrearty family and their friends and associates; (h) allegations contained in documents received by then Deputy Jim Higgins and Deputy Howlin; and (j) the effectiveness of the Garda Complaints Board inquiry vis-À-vis the complaints made by Mr. Frank McBrearty senior.

I understand that the tribunal currently anticipates that, if all the participants co-operate, it will complete all its work by the summer of 2007.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount spent on the Morris tribunal in each year since the tribunal was established in 2002; the amount spent on the Carty inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11446/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The amounts spent on the Morris tribunal to date, broken down by year, are as set out in the following table:

As regards the amount spent on the investigation by Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty, the position is that this investigation was undertaken as part of normal duties and the costs involved were accounted for in the normal manner under the relevant subheads of the Votes concerned. It would not be possible retrospectively to extract the cost of this investigation without the reallocation of resources on a scale that would be impractical.