Skip to main content
Normal View

Public Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Questions (61)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

61. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been under way; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [15534/20]

View answer

Written answers

The two Commissions of Investigation for which I am the specified Minister under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 are the NAMA Commission of Investigation, for which Judge John Cooke is the Sole Member, and the IBRC Commission of Investigation, for which Judge Brian Cregan is the Sole Member. Both Commissions are fully independent in their investigations.

The NAMA Commission of investigation was established by Government Order on 13 June 2017 following consultation with Oireachtas parties. In June 2020 the Commission was granted an extension of its deadline for reporting on the initial phase of its work until the end of September 2020. From the date of its establishment to 8 July 2020, the NAMA Commission has spent a total of €2,592,934. My Department originally estimated that the final cost of the Commission, including third party legal costs was likely to be approximately €10m.

The IBRC Commission of investigation was established by Government Order on 16 June 2015, following consultation with Oireachtas parties. Its timeframe was subsequently extended on a number of occasions following consultation with Oireachtas parties. In February 2020 Judge Cregan requested an extension of the Commission’s deadline for reporting in relation to the Siteserv transaction until the end of 2020. In view of the pressures arising in relation to Covid-19 and talks on the formation of a new Government, the Commission’s timeframe for reporting was extended until end-June and then end-September 2020 pending consultation with Oireachtas representatives.

From the date of its establishment to 8th July 2020, the IBRC Commission spent a total of €7,990,162, excluding third party legal costs that have been incurred but not yet paid. The Commission has estimated that the final cost of the completion of the first module of its investigation, will be from €11 - €14 million. However, this estimate assumes the investigation is completed in accordance with the timetable stated by the Commission and excludes costs or delays associated with judicial review hearings. The Commission also acknowledges that it involves a substantial degree of uncertainty regarding the amount of costs actually recoverable by parties before the Commission, and it assumes the Commission’s Legal Costs Guidelines are not successfully challenged. My Department has given its view on many occasions, including in briefings with Oireachtas representatives, that the final cost is likely to significantly exceed the Commission’s estimate, and could exceed €30m.

The Deputy will also wish to note that the Moriarty Tribunal was established in 1997 and published its Final Report in March 2011.

Following publication of that Report, the Tribunal remains in place with a reduced legal and administrative staff to deal with outstanding legal matters and wind it down to a conclusion.

Total expenditure by my Department from the establishment of the Moriarty Tribunal in 1997 to date is €65.509 million.

Top
Share