The Moriarty tribunal, which had been considering holding sittings today concerning aspects of its draft findings, is not now expected to sit until late next month, at the earliest.
The tribunal’s draft findings on its marathon inquiry into the 1995 mobile phone licence competition were circulated late last year to allow affected parties to comment.
It is understood a substantial submission has been made to the tribunal by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The department is known to be very concerned about aspects of the proposed findings from the tribunal.
An English solicitor, Christopher Vaughan, had at one stage been scheduled to appear before the tribunal today. Mr Vaughan acted in a number of property transactions in the UK that have been investigated by the tribunal and which will be the subject of findings in the eventual report.
Among the matters the tribunal is investigating is whether businessman Denis O’Brien had any connection with property transactions that involved the former minister for transport, energy and communications Michael Lowry.
Mr O’Brien’s Esat Digifone consortium won the licence competition, which was run by Mr Lowry’s department.
Mr Vaughan, who lives in England, did not comply with requests from the tribunal when it was holding its substantive hearings that he come and give evidence. However, earlier this year he was served with a summons while on a visit to Dublin, and agreed to return to a hearing at a future date.
Some parties affected by the tribunal may want witnesses called to address directly some of chairman Mr Justice Michael Moriarty’s findings. A challenge in the courts concerning the level of proof, if any, the chairman should apply to any findings he may make, may also occur. A final report could take some time.