Former Fianna Fáil minister Mr Ray Burke is taking legal action against the State to recoup the costs of his involvement with the Planning Tribunal.
Mr Burke has issued High Court proceedings against the Attorney General, the Minister for the Environment, the tribunal and its former chairman, Mr Justice Feargus Flood. He is seeking an order that would oblige these parties to pay the costs.
Mr Burke's costs are expected to run to millions of euros. One estimate put the figure at over €10 million.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment confirmed Mr Burke had issued proceedings against "the Minister for the Environment amongst others." He told ireland.comthe Department had learned of the impending action on Tuesday evening, having been informed by the office of the Chief State Solicitor.
Last week the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, published legislation which clears the way for the current tribunal chairman, Judge Alan Mahon, to adjudicate on the issue of legal costs arising from the work of the tribunal in its first five years.
This followed the sudden resignation last June of Mr Justice Flood, who heard the evidence at the tribunal during this period.
Legal experts had expressed fears that any decision on costs by Judge Mahon would be open to challenge because he was not the judge who heard the original evidence.
