Moriarty may say he is not precluded from CRH inquiries

The Moriarty tribunal chairman may announce soon that he no longer considers himself precluded from inquiring into any matter concerning Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) which falls within the tribunal's terms of reference.

It is understood Mr Justice Moriarty's new position, which is being put to the leaders of the political parties, is not confined to the issue of the Glen Ding wood sale by the State to CRH.

The Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, contacted party leaders earlier this week to canvass their views on Mr Justice Moriarty's behalf, say sources.

It is not thought that any of the party leaders will object to the chairman announcing a new position on the matter. Earlier this month, Labour Party TD Mr Brendan Howlin said if Mr Justice Moriarty did not change his position it would be necessary to appoint a co-chairman to investigate any CRH issues.

The leader of Fine Gael, Mr John Bruton, believes there is no conflict of interest involved in Mr Justice Moriarty inquiring into matters concerning CRH. The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, recently said he believed there was nothing precluding the tribunal from inquiring into Glen Ding wood.

Also last month it was revealed that more than half the board of CRH in 1989 had dealings with the Ansbacher deposits. The unauthorised banking activity was conducted from the CRH head offices on Fitzwilliam Square for a number of years.

In June, the chairman revealed that, because he had a substantial shareholding in CRH, he had informed the then attorney general, Mr David Byrne, at the time of his (Mr Moriarty's) appointment in 1997 that he would accept the position of chairman only on the understanding that he was precluded from inquiring into matters concerning CRH.