PAC chief queries tribunal cost

THE former chair of the Public Accounts Committee has questioned the Taoiseach’s assertion that after nearly a quarter of a century the Moriarty Tribunal will finally conclude next year.

The Moriarty Tribunal has cost the State at least €65.5m, based on the most recent figures up to October 2020.

The tribunal, which looked into the financial affairs of Charles Haughey, amongst others, has continued to cost the State money, even after the publication of the final report in 2011.

Micheál Martin made the claim whilst responding to queries by Fianna Fáil deputy John McGuinness over the cost of running a number of State tribunals and Inquiries. The queries by Mr McGuinness revealed that the IBRC commission of Inquiry into Anglo Irish Bank, which has sat for five years without making a single finding of fact on 20 different modules, has cost the taxpayer more than €8million in fees for its own staff.

Commenting on the ongoing debacle, Mr McGuinness said: ‘Irish tribunals and inquiries are like zombies. They carry on without any apparent purpose beyond the consumption of taxpayers’ money. Truly they are the living equivalent of the legal dead.’

The information emerged after Mr McGuinness asked the Taoiseach the number of tribunals, inquiries or investigations currently being undertaken by his Department.

The Taoiseach said in response that the I BRC Commission has spent €8,687,379, while the NAMA Commission, established in 2017, has spent €2,911,477.

The Moriarty Tribunal was established in 1997 and published its final report in March 2011. Following publication of that report, a reduced legal and administrative staff remains in place.

It has cost €65.5million, far less than the €136million that the Mahon Tribunal has cost to date.

The Disclosures Tribunal, which looked into protected disclosures made by Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe, has cost the State €8.2 million to date.