Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2005
315 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to date to the Garda Síochána and his Department of all the various aspects of the inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17006/05]
View answer328 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to the taxpayer of the Barron investigation from 14 October 1996 to date; the cost of investigations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17214/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 328 together.
Investigations are undertaken as part of normal duties. Therefore the multitude of different costs incurred by the inquiry into the death of Mr. Barron and by the related investigations referred to by the Deputies were accounted for in the normal manner under the relevant general sub-heads of the Votes concerned. For this reason it would not be possible to cost the named investigations retrospectively without the reallocation of scarce resources on a scale that would be impractical. The cumulative cost of the Morris tribunal from April 2002 to the end of April 2005 is €16.9 million. The element of these costs that are attributable to legal representation for the Commissioner and the Garda Síochána is €2.7 million.
316 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda Commissioner had any input into the selection and appointment of persons (details supplied) to the Morris tribunal; if so, the extent of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17007/05]
View answerThe selection of investigators was a matter for the tribunal. The practical arrangements necessary for their appointment were carried out by my Department. The Garda Commissioner had no involvement in the selection and appointment process.
