Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason there is a different calculation between his Department and the Department of the Taoiseach regarding the cost (details supplied) of the Moriarty tribunal; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the €2.564 million and to whom it was paid; if he will clarify the precise and accurate details on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22089/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The reply recently given by the Taoiseach was in response to questions about payments by that Department, and set out the total paid by that Department in relation to the Moriarty Tribunal, up to end-April 2010. The reply which I gave on 1 April 2010 set out the total paid by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, up to end-February 2010. The Department of the Taoiseach total to end-February 2010 was €38.946 million, made up of €7.752 million in Tribunal administration and €31.194 million in Tribunal legal costs. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources total to end-February was €2.7 million, made up of €0.136 million in administration and €2.564 million in legal costs, discharged from 2002 to end-February 2010 in connection with that Department's involvement with the Moriarty Tribunal. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will be able to provide information regarding the sum of €2.564 million.

No decision in relation to third party legal costs has been made to date by the Moriarty Tribunal and accordingly, no such costs have been paid by either Department. Expenditure by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to the Moriarty Tribunal will in future replies to Parliamentary Questions be classified and shown separately from that paid by the Department of the Taoiseach.