John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of tribunals of inquiry conducted by his Department; the title of each; the cost of each to date in 2010; the expected date of conclusion of each; and the projected final costs. [2733/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy in respect of sitting or recently concluded Tribunals of Inquiry, established under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2004, where the final cost is not yet determined, is set out in this reply. The Smithwick Tribunal was established in 2005 to investigate suggestions that members of the Garda Síochána or other employees of the State colluded in the fatal shootings of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC Superintendent Robert Buchanan on 20 March 1989. The sole member of the tribunal is His Honour Judge Peter Smithwick. The total cost of the tribunal to 31 December 2009 (the latest date for which figures are available) is €6.09 million. The tribunal is in its investigative phase at present and it is not, therefore, possible to say when it will conclude its work. Neither is it possible at this point to indicate the final cost. The tribunal of inquiry into complaints concerning some gardaí of the Donegal Division has concluded. The cost, as at end of December 2009 was €52.8 million and the projected final cost is approximately €70 million.