The Government must give a "categorical assurance" that tribunals currently under way will be allowed to finish their work, Labour Party spokesman on justice Mr Joe Costello said today.
"I understand that the Flood Tribunal will shortly be starting the 'Gilmartin module' of its work, during which it is expected that the Taoiseach and other prominent Fianna Fáil figures will give evidence.
"Against this background statements from anonymous government figures talking about 'pulling the shutters down' can only be regarded as a sinister development", Mr Costello said.
He was referring to a report in Saturday's Irish Timeswhich said Government officials were considering curtailing or even closing down the inquiries because of their the spiralling cost.
The report quoted high-level sources saying there was still no end in sight to a number of tribunals and that the "madness can't go on, we just can't afford it".
"Certainly a number of the Tribunals have gone on longer that anticipated and still have much work to undertake and I am sure that this is not a situation that those involved in the tribunals want," Mr Costello added.
"Part of the reason for the delays can be attributed to a long succession of largely unsuccessful legal challenges mounted to the powers of tribunals.
"Rather than undermining the tribunals through threatening leaks, the Government should be making contact with them to see if additional resources are required to help speed up the work and to consider ways of reducing costs and especially the amounts paid to lawyers. "
The Taoiseach said there was no truth to the Irish Timesreport but said plans to develop new methods of public investigation were already in the pipeline and would be published in the Commission of Investigation Bill due later this year.
