Vol. 440 No. 6
28 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of persons still employed at the tribunal of inquiry into the beef processing industry; and the total payments made to each person employed to date.
91 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the payments to date to senior counsel at the beef tribunal; the breakdown of these payments; the total professional legal fees that are likely to be paid for the tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 91 together.
The number of persons still employed in connection with the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry, apart from the Sole Member of the tribunal, is eight. These include one senior counsel attached to the tribunal who is paid at the rate of £1,000 per day, together with two members of the legal staff of the office of the Chief State Solicitor and other administrative and clerical back-up staff.
Total payments made to date in respect of the beef tribunal by my Department are £7,255,639.09. Of this amount, £6,632,780.27 has been paid in respect of fees, withholding tax, salaries, overtime, travel expenses, etc. to persons engaged at the tribunal as detailed in the tabular statement which I am circulating. Information on total payments made to each person, apart from counsel, is not readily available.
Total payments to date by my Department to the senior counsel who have been engaged on behalf of the State and the tribunal since its inception are £3,259,025.60 including £740,042.30 withholding tax. The rates of payments for briefs and refresher fees were established by the Attorney General in office at the time. The present Attorney General established the amount of the fees payable for days when the tribunal was working but not sitting in public. I am circulating a table outlining the payments made to senior counsel. It is not possible at this stage to estimate what the final total professional legal fees will be as this will depend inter alia on whether and to whom costs may be awarded and the level of such costs.
