Vol. 574 No. 1
194 Mr. McGuinness asked the Taoiseach the cost to date of the Moriarty tribunal; the number of staff involved; the number of legal representatives paid by the State involved in the Tribunal; the rates of pay per day; if those involved are paid for sitting days only; if they are paid on a full-time permanent basis for the life of the tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26042/03]
The cost of the Moriarty tribunal since its establishment in October 1997 to the end of September 2003 amounts to €14,165,386.
A total of 16 persons are employed at the tribunal. Of these, seven are permanent public servants, one is a judge, six are barristers, one is a freelance legal secretary and there is one part-time cleaner.
The rates of pay per day for the legal staff are as follows: senior counsel €2,500 per day; junior counsel €2,000 per day; senior research counsel €571 per day and junior research counsel €381 per day.
Counsel are paid for sitting days as well as non-sitting days, during the private investigation stages, out of the public eye, but very necessary for the purpose of hearings.
