Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Taoiseach the status of an inquiry (details supplied). [48750/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The IBRC Commission was established on 16 June 2015 under the Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) Order 2015. Mr. Justice Brian Cregan, a judge of the High Court, is the Commission's sole member.

The Commission is entirely independent in its work and it is not possible for me to make any comment on the status of the Commission other than in relation to administrative matters for which I am responsible as the specified Minister under the Act.

The timeframe for the final report on the first module of the Commission's work, in relation to the Siteserv transaction, is the end of December 2017. However, as I informed Opposition representatives when I met them on 14 November 2017, the Commission is now of the view that its investigation into Siteserv could take a further twelve months i.e. until December 2018 and it will be seeking an extension of its timeframe for reporting.

Since it was established to the end of October 2017 the Commission spent €2,589,911. This figure does not include significant third party costs or legal fees that have been incurred and will arise for payment in due course. I also informed Opposition representatives when I met them that the Commission has requested an increase in the level of fees to be paid to legal counsel. At the meeting concerns were expressed about the potential significantly increased cost of the Commission and my Department is communicating with the Commission in relation to these issues.