Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of inquiries in respect of any tribunal of inquiry, commission of inquiry or investigation for which he or his Department have or have had responsibility since 1997; the name of each inquiry; the terms of reference of each inquiry; the cost of each inquiry including the cost to date where an inquiry has not been concluded; the dates of each inquiry including the projected date of conclusion where an inquiry has not been concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32427/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The only such inquiry for which my Department had responsibility during the period in question was the investigation by Mr. Justice Peter Cory, a retired judge of the Canadian Supreme Court, of allegations of collusion in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Patrick Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson, and Billy Wright. Judge Cory was appointed to undertake this investigation by the British and Irish Governments on 28 May 2002. The terms of reference of the investigation were to:

review all the relevant papers in each case, including the records of earlier investigations;

interview anyone Judge Cory thought could assist in his examination;

establish the facts so far as practicable and subject to the law of the respective jurisdictions;

keep, in reasonable manner, the relevant Governments informed of progress;

submit reports as soon as practicable, including in circumstance where there was not sufficient basis to establish the facts in a particular case; the reports to include any recommendation(s) for further action, including, if considered necessary, the holding of a public inquiry.

Judge Cory was also requested to hear the views of the victims' families and to keep them informed of progress, if that was their wish. Judge Cory submitted his final reports to the two Governments on 7 October 2003.

The costs of the inquiry were shared between the two Governments. It was agreed that there would be a 50:50 split for the following items: salaries of the judge and assistants, travel and allowances. In addition, each Government directly covered the costs that arose in its jurisdiction such as legal advice, secretarial support, accommodation and travel. Some costs were also paid in respect of legal representation for the families.

The total cost to the Irish exchequer of the investigation was €341,168.90.