Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proportion of the cost of each tribunal made up of legal fees, and the amount of money spent on legal fees in respect of tribunals in each of the years since 1997, under the aegis of her Department. [34549/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are no tribunals of inquiry relating to my Department to which the Tribunals of Inquiry or Commissions of Investigation legislation would apply.

However, as the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for sponsoring the legislation governing the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The terms of reference of the Commission are set out in the 2000 Act and amended by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005. The purpose of the Commission is to investigate child abuse in institutions in the State, to enable persons who have suffered such abuse to give evidence to committees of the Commission, and to provide for the preparation and publication of a report containing the results of the Commission's investigation and any recommendations it considers appropriate for the prevention of child abuse. A sum of approximately €34 million has been expended from Exchequer funds on the Commission inquiry up to the end of September 2006. This includes the Commission's pay and administrative costs legal costs and the Department's legal fees. The Government made an order in May 2005 extending the term of the Commission up to 23 May 2008. The Commission has indicated that it will conclude its inquiry before that date.