asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has yet received the report of the inquiry into the recent crash of a K.L.M. aircraft at Shannon Airport.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Crash Inquiry.
I have received the report of the formal investigation and arrangements for publication are in hands.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the amount of fees paid per day to State counsel engaged on the inquiry into (i) the recent aircraft disaster at Shannon, and (ii) the aircraft crash near Birmingham.
At the formal investigation of the accident to the K.L.M. aircraft PH-LKY in the estuary of the River Shannon on the 5th September, 1954, it was found necessary to engage senior and junior counsel on behalf of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, on behalf of the Attorney-General and on behalf of certain State staff. Each senior counsel was engaged at 150 guineas as fee on brief and at 40 guineas as refresher per day. Junior counsel were engaged at 100 guineas as fee on brief and 27 guineas as refresher per day.
At the formal investigation of the accident to Aer Lingus aircraft EI-ACF on the 1st January, 1953, a senior and junior counsel were engaged on behalf of the Minister for Industry and Commerce. The senior counsel was engaged at 40 guineas as fee on brief and 17 guineas as refresher per day. Junior counsel was engaged at 30 guineas as fee on brief and 12 guineas as refresher per day.
In the case of the K.L.M. inquiry it appeared that charges might be made against the Department of Industry and Commerce. It was, therefore, undesirable that the case should be presented by counsel acting on behalf of the Minister for Industry and Commerce as was done at the inquiry into the Aer Lingus accident at Birmingham.
Counsel for certain State staff were engaged at the request of the staff, but I considered that it would be unfair to require the staff to pay the costs involved.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total amount of legal fees paid, or due to be paid, out of State funds to each member of the Houses of the Oireachtas engaged on the recent Shannon air crash inquiry.
One member of the Oireachtas was engaged on behalf of the State at the formal investigation of the accident to the aircraft PH-LKY on the 5th September, 1954. The total amount of legal fees payable to him out of State funds amounts to £1,355 11s.