Vol. 534 No. 2
54 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the procedures which exist in respect of communications between his Department and the Flood tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9624/01]
The tribunal of inquiry into certain planning matters and payments is an independent tribunal and was established by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 7 and 8 October 1997, respectively.
The costs of the tribunal fall to be met from the Vote of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Officials from my Department regularly communicate with the registrar and office manager to the tribunal in relation to day-to-day administrative, staffing and financial matters. The secretary general of the Department has assured the sole member of the tribunal of the Department's full co-operation in carrying out its duties. In addition, my Department, on formal request from the tribunal, has supplied material to it in connection with its private investigative stages of work.
