Vol. 575 No. 4
95 Mr. Glennon asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the legal costs incurred to date by the State in relation to the Mahon Tribunal set up by order of the Oireachtas and currently running; and the estimated future liability for such costs. [23833/03]
The costs of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments fall to be met from the Vote of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The legal costs incurred by the tribunal up to 21 November 2003 are €16,523,472.15. This includes €15,097,874.99 paid to the tribunal's legal team and €1,425,597.16 incurred in court costs.
The future legal costs of the tribunal cannot be estimated by my Department at this stage as these depend on the progress of its business by the tribunal and on decisions by the tribunal with regard to costs of witnesses.
