Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Tribunals of Inquiry.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

91 Mr. Callely asked the Taoiseach the cost of the Moriarty tribunal to date; the approximate daily cost; the items included in daily costs; the allowances and travel expenses paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22643/99]

The Taoiseach

The cost of the tribunal to my Department to date amounts to £3,286,444. Details are set out below.

The main costs relate to legal fees of the counsel for the tribunal. The sanctioned rates for legal fees are set out below. The salary of Mr. Justice Moriarty is being paid, as is the case with all judicial salaries, allowances and pensions, from the central fund.

All other payments relate to the direct administration of the tribunal office in Dublin Castle – types of expenditure are detailed in the following table. The Office of Public Works provides the office accommodation for the tribunal in Dublin Castle.

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 registrar of the tribunal is in receipt of an acting-up allowance.

There have been no travel expenses paid to date.

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)	Amount
Administration	£258,385
Legal costs	£1,069,418
Total	£1,327,803
1999 (Jan – 5 Nov)	Amount
Administration	£462,240
Legal costs	£1,060,640
Total	£1,522,880
Overall total to date:	£3,286,444

Note 1: Legal Fees

The main legal costs represent fees to two senior counsel, one junior counsel and two research assistants.

The sanctioned rates for legal fees are outlined below:

	Senior Counsel (IR£)	Junior Counsel (IR£)
Brief fee	25,000	16,500
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	Senior (IR£)	Junior (IR£)
Daily rate	350	300

Note 2: Administration Costs

The administration costs represent the running costs of the tribunal office in Dublin Castle.

The total costs above include the following types of expenditure:

Pay costs of administration staff *

Catering and office supplies

Training

Taxi and courier costs

Advertising services

Legal services (searches, etc.)

Office equipment and maintenance

Postal and telecommunications

Hire of equipment for tribunal meetings

Training

Contract cleaning

Stenography service

Purchase of reference books, etc.

Office furniture and fittings

*(including acting up allowance for Registrar)