The planning tribunal has pushed its deadline for finishing public hearings to late summer next year, six months later than originally planned, according to its chairman, Judge Alan Mahon.
Yesterday Judge Mahon told the Oireachtas that the current investigation into allegations of corruption surrounding the development of the Quarryvale shopping centre in Dublin would be its last major public inquiry.
Subject to unexpected problems or delays, he told TDs in a letter yesterday, the remaining evidence to be heard about the allegations surrounding Quarryvale would be completed by the spring or early summer.
Speaking at the tribunal in Dublin Castle yesterday, the judge said it was appropriate that the tribunal make a statement about when it was likely to conclude, given the approach of its 10th anniversary, on November 4th.
"Because of its size, it is not possible to accurately estimate its length, but the tribunal at this time anticipates that public hearings in Quarryvale II will continue until the late spring or early summer 2008," he said.
Following this, a "limited number" of days of public hearings would be necessary to deal with outstanding issues from other chapters of the tribunal's investigations, but he believed that all public hearings would be out of the way by late summer.
"Submissions will then be invited from a number of parties who will have by then given evidence to the tribunal," he told the tribunal hearing, adding that the three judges would then begin to prepare its report.
Last December Judge Mahon advised the Government that the tribunal would not be able to meet the March 31st, 2008, deadline set down in 2004, though he then believed that it would "complete all of its remaining public hearings in early 2008".
The tribunal was set up by ministerial order on November 4th, 1997.
Established after prolonged concern over corruption in the planning process, the tribunal was initially chaired by sole member Justice Feargus Flood.
Formally titled The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, it was charged with examining planning decisions in various areas of Dublin including corruption in relation to planning at Carrickmines, Coolamber and Quarryvale. It has published much of its findings in four interim reports.
When Justice Flood retired, he was replaced by Judge Mahon, Judge Mary Faherty and Judge Gerald Keys.
Chief witnesses at the tribunal have included Luton-based developer Tom Gilmartin, former Fianna Fáil press secretary Frank Dunlop and disgraced former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke. A string of former Dublin councillors have taken the stand, along with former ministers, bank officials and various civil servants.
Two former taoisigh gave evidence: John Bruton and Albert Reynolds.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave evidence at the tribunal last month on foot of allegations that he received up to £100,000 from developer Owen O'Callaghan. The tribunal questioned him about a number of financial transactions in his accounts.
Last Spring, in response to suggestions by former minister for justice Michael McDowell that the tribunal would ultimately cost €1 billion, Judge Mahon said the anticipated costs would be €300 million.