As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Moriarty Tribunal made a number of recommendations which related to the responsibilities of different Government Departments. While there is ongoing contact between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the Tribunals Bill and to related legal issues and judicial developments, other Departments have responsibility for taking forward recommendations in relation to other aspects of the report of the Moriarty Tribunal.
In this regard I understand that there have been relevant developments with respect to the field of financial regulation, company law, and electoral law.
The Tribunals Bill is under review in my Department. Detailed consideration has had to be given to the full suites of recommendations made by the Moriarty Tribunal in its Report of March 2011 and by the Mahon Report in March 2012, to the relevant judgments delivered by the Supreme Court in July 2011 and October 2012, and to the developing experience regarding the operation of Commissions of Investigation. The review will be completed as soon as possible, but is dependent on other legislative priorities. Accordingly, the likely timeframe cannot be indicated with any certainty at this point.
I can also advise the Deputy that following the examination by An Garda Síochána of the report of Moriarty Tribunal, the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution was sought with a view to determining whether or not a full Garda investigation should be commenced. This advice is awaited.
