Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
78 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if agreement has been reached with each of the tribunals of inquiry regarding a proposed new schedule of fees; when the new fees will come into operation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29856/04]
View answerMy predecessor announced on 19 July last that the Government had decided that, with effect from 1 September 2004, the cost of all legal representation, including that of third parties, at newly-established tribunals or other forms of inquiry will be paid by way of a set fee payable for the entirety of the tribunal.
The calculation of daily rates will be based on this fee. These rates are as follows: senior counsel, €213,098 per annum or €969 per day; junior counsel, €142,065 per annum or €646 per day —two thirds of the SC rate; and solicitor, €176,000 per annum or €800 per daily appearance or €100 per hour for work undertaken other than appearing at the tribunal.
It was also decided at that time that the new fee structure should apply to existing tribunals and inquiries with effect from such dates as may be determined by the Government following consultation between the Attorney General and the chairperson of each tribunal-inquiry. Arising from the above-mentioned consultations the Government has agreed the dates on which the new schedule of fees would be applied to existing tribunals and inquiries. These are as follows:
The Murphy inquiry into child sexual abuse in Ferns: 1 December 2004;
The Clarke inquiry into events at Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda: 31 March 2005;
The Dunne (post mortem) inquiry: 31 March 2005;
The Barr tribunal, investigating the shooting dead of John Carty at Abbeylara: 1 June 2005;
The Moriarty tribunal, investigating payments to Mr. Haughey and Mr. Lowry: 11 January 2006;
The Morris tribunal investigating activities by gardaí in Donegal: 30 September 2006;
The Mahon tribunal, investigating certain planning matters and payments: end March 2007;
The Ryan Commission on the Investigation of Child Abuse: May 2008.
The Government decided to set different dates in relation to different tribunals and inquiries having regard to the individual circumstances of each tribunal or inquiry and after communication with each of their chairpersons. The Government determined not to set dates which were unrealistically early, as to do so might have involved extensive disruption of the tribunals and inquiries by reason of changes in legal personnel involved. The delays and costs which such changes would have entailed could have added to, rather than reduced, the costs of the tribunals and inquiries.
