David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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147. To ask the Taoiseach the cost of each commission of investigation under the remit of his Department over the preceding decade. [43001/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am the specified Minister under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 for two Commissions of Investigation whose work is currently ongoing. Both Commissions were established following extensive consultations with members of all Oireachtas parties. As specified I am responsible for overseeing certain administrative matters concerning the Commissions and for receiving their reports. However, the Commissions are fully independent in their investigations. The Commissions of Investigation concerned are:

- the Commission of Investigation on the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) which is investigating certain transactions. To the end of August this year the Commission cost €10,593,230, excluding any third party legal costs incurred which have yet to be paid. As Oireachtas members have been previously informed, my Department has estimated that the final cost of the Commission is likely to exceed €30m.

- the Commission of Investigation on the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) which is investigating the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle. To the end of August this year the Commission has cost €3,596,209, excluding any third party legal costs incurred which have yet to be paid.

The Fennelly Commission of Investigation is the only other Commission of Investigation for which the Taoiseach was the specified Minister in the past decade. The Commission’s work related to certain allegation made by Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe and its final report was completed in March 2017. The total cost of the Commission was €3,528,658.