Tribunals 'to cost over €370m'

Two senior counsel working for the Moriarty tribunal have so far earned €8.5 million each, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee heard today.

Up to date figures outlined by the departments with responsibility for the Mahon, Moriarty and Morris tribunals showed the 15 highest paid legal counsels earned €57.45 million between them over the lifetime of the tribunals so far.

The Morris tribunal, under the auspices of the Department of Justice, was completed after seven years, while the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals, under the auspices of the Department of the Environment and the Department of the Taoiseach, have been running for 12 years so far.

The final overall cost for the Morris tribunal, which investigated Garda corruption, is expected to be in the region of €70 million, the Committee heard.

While the Comptroller and Audtior General has estimated the cost of the Mahon tribunal, which looked into planning irregularities in Dublin, at between €171 million and €194 million, the committee was told it would be several years before third party costs are finally determined.

It also heard that the publication of the Mahon tribunal report, though expected late this year, may be delayed by a High Court case challenging the decision by its chairman Mr Justice Alan Mahon not to allow for final submissions by relevant parties on any draft adverse findings.

The committee also heard that the Moriarty tribunal's sole member, Mr Justice Michael Moriarty, had told the Taoiseach’s department that the recent hearings could give rise to revised provisional findings and until submissions were received on those findings, it would not be possible to say whether or not there would be further public hearings.

The cost of the Moriarty tribunal, established to examine payments to politicians, is estimated at €100 million.