Ivor Callely
Ceist:30 Mr. Callely asked the Taoiseach the total cost to date of the Moriarty tribunal; the daily cost of the tribunal; and the provision, if any, he has made for the total overall and associated costs. [16212/99]
Written Answers. - Tribunals of Inquiry.
The cost of the Moriarty tribunal to date is £2.643 million. Details are set out in the following schedule. The daily cost of the tribunal varies, depending on whether it is a public sitting day, which would involve significant administration and other expenses, or whether it is a non-sitting day. The 1999 provision for the tribunal is £4.65 million as set out in the Revised Estimates for my Department. It is not possible to estimate the final cost of the tribunal at this stage, in view of uncertainty with regard to its duration and associated issues. The latest indications are that while there may be some savings on the 1999 estimate, there will be significant costs arising next year, when decisions on the award of costs are likely, to date, 24 parties have been granted representation by the Tribunal. My Department is currently in discussions with the Department of Finance on this matter in the context of the multi-annual budgets for the period 2000-2002.
Schedule.
Tribunal of Inquiry (Moriarty Tribunal) – Costs met by the Department of the Taoiseach to date.
|
1997 (Oct – Dec) |
Amount |
|
£ |
|
|
Administration |
174,837 |
|
Legal costs |
260,924 |
|
Total |
435,761 |
|
1998 (full year) |
£ |
|
Administration |
258,385 |
|
Legal costs |
1,069,418 |
|
Total |
1,327,803 |
|
1999 (Jan to – 24 June 1999) |
£ |
|
Administration |
168,172 |
|
Legal costs |
711,104 |
|
Total |
879,276 |
|
Overall total to date: |
2,642,840 |
Note 1: Legal Fees:
The main legal costs represent fees to two Senior Counsel, one Junior Counsel and two Research Assistants.
The agreed rates are outlined below:
Moriarty Tribunal
|
Senior Counsel |
Junior Counsel |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Brief fee |
25,000 |
16,500 |
|
Senior Counsel |
Junior Counsel |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Refresher fees (sitting days): |
||
|
first 30 days |
1,450 |
950 |
|
next 20 days |
1,400 |
950 |
|
thereafter |
1,350 |
900 |
|
Non-sitting days |
1,350 |
900 |
|
Part day per hour |
165 |
110 |
|
Research Counsel |
||
|
Daily rate |
350 |
300 |
Note 2: Administration Costs
The administration costs represent the running costs of the Tribunal Office in Dublin Castle.
The total cost includes the following types of expenditure: pay costs of administration staff; meetings; catering and office supplies; taxi and courier costs; advertising services; legal services, searches, etc.; office equipment and maintenance; hire of equipment for tribunal; training; contract cleaning; stenography service; purchase of reference books, etc.; office furniture and fittings; postal and telecommunications.