Our ‘zombie tribunals’ could cost up to €100m

After 23 years, tribunal still paying fees... as inquiry has yet to report after f ive years

A NUMBER of investigations set up to make sure taxpayer funds were spent wisely are in danger of turning into what one TD called ‘zombie tribunals’ that are likely to end up costing the State more than €100m, it has emerged.

Astonishingly, they even include the Moriarty Tribunal. Established 23 years ago, it issued its Final Report almost a decade ago – but is still actually running, and paying out legal and administration fees.

That inquiry alone is expected to cost more than €65m, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín.

The details emerged after Mr Tóibín put questions to Mr Martin in the Dáil about incomplete commissions of investigation and the still-running Moriarty inquiry.

The investigations are poised to cost the taxpayer more than €100m, it has emerged, and political concern is especially growing over the Commission of Investigation into transactions at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, the company set up when the State took over Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society.

That inquiry is already five years old and is still investigating the purchase of utilities company Siteserv by business tycoon Denis O’Brien.

However, it has yet to produce an interim report or make a single finding of fact on any issues, and the Government now fears this module alone will cost €30m.

More alarming still is the fact that it is only the first of 38 modules, and it has already been extended for another three months. One senior Government source warned: ‘It is turning into the runaway Commission.’

Mr Tóibín warned that while the cost of this first module was expected to top out at €14m, the former and current taoisigh have estimated the final cost will be well north of €30m – and other analysts have claimed that it will eventually hit €70m. He claimed costs are ‘approaching the cost of the initial IBRC writedown that the Commission was set up to investigate. It actually looks as though it might even supersede the Moriarty Tribunal in cost,’ he said.

On the Moriarty Tribunal, the Taoiseach has admitted: ‘The tribunal remains in place with a reduced legal and administrative staff to deal with outstanding legal matters and wind it down to a conclusion.

‘Total expenditure by my department from the establishment of the Moriarty Tribunal in 1997 to date is €65.509m.’

Mr Tóibín replied: ‘The Moriarty Tribunal is like a zombie tribunal

‘Like gravy trains for the legal professionals’