John Bruton
Ceist:1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of files that have been sent by his Department to the Flood and Moriarty tribunals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16350/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Tribunals of Inquiry.
Since my reply to the House on 23 March 1999 the solicitor to the Moriarty tribunal has written to my Department by way of confidential letters on three separate matters. Each of these letters has been replied to by my Department. No departmental files have been sought in this period nor are there any outstanding requests from the tribunal.
In the case of the Flood tribunal no requests have been made for files or additional information since 23 March 1999.
As the Deputy will appreciate, to ensure the utmost confidentiality in all dealings with the tribunals and to ensure they are enabled to perform the tasks assigned to them by the Oireachtas, it would not be appropriate for me to go into detail on any dealings with either of the tribunals.
Has the Taoiseach conducted or had conducted an audit of the files in his Department generally to establish if there are any that ought to be volunteered to the tribunals or is he simply acting on the basis of requests from the tribunals only?
At the time the tribunals began their work, my Department was asked for files. I gave information here previously on the files that were sent to them. The Department would have sent quite a number of files to the tribunals at that time.
Does the Taoiseach agree that as the tribunals proceed new topics are coming to light as being of interest to them and that in light of that the Government should conduct a further examination of its files to ascertain if there is any other further matter that ought to be drawn to their attention, given what we now know about their scope of thrust that was not necessarily known to the Government at the time of their initial establishment?
When a new issue comes before the tribunals and they consider there may be a file on it in a Department, they contact that Department. New issues arose some time ago in respect of which my Department passed files to one of the tribunals. I believe some Ministers have done likewise.
How would either of the tribunals know for sure whether a Department had a file that is of interest to it? Given that it would not necessarily know that, surely it behoves the Government to have in place some such system of examination?
If my Department or I were aware of an issue that would be of interest to the tribunals, we would pass it to them.
Given that, as Deputy Bruton said, the scope and workload, particularly of the Flood tribunal, is so extensive, has the Taoiseach or the Government considered getting the views of the sole member of that tribunal on the possibility of an interim report rather than having to wait perhaps several years before a report is placed before these Houses?
The question of an interim report is a matter for the sole member of that tribunal.
Is the Taoiseach considering exploring the views of the sole member on that matter?
I do not think I will, as I do not want to interfere. The sole member has made it clear that he is following a module approach into various sectors. I am sure he will indicate in his own time to the Ceann Comhairle, which is the appropriate way, when he is finished or wishes to submit a report, but there has been no such indication.
Would the Taoiseach welcome an interim report or a progress report from the Flood tribunal in particular?
I would welcome a full report on the whole lot whenever it is finished.
Has the Government furnished any files to the tribunal in respect of urban designations?
Has my Department?
Has any Department, to the Taoiseach's knowledge?
The Deputy should table a question to the relevant Department and he will get the full information.
The question is about the number of files, not about the content of the files.
I appreciate that, a Cheann Comhairle. Is the Taoiseach aware that any such file numbered and submitted to the tribunal has to do with urban designations?
I understand from media reports and replies made in this House that quite a number of files about urban designations have been forwarded to the tribunal.
Thank you.