Departmental Expenditure.

Thursday, 2 June 2005

Questions (217)

John McGuinness

Question:

217 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the costs paid from Exchequer funds to 31 December 2004 on all commissions, inquiries and tribunals commenced since 1995 by his Department; the title of the commission, inquiry and tribunal; the estimated date of completion of same; the estimated final cost of each commission, inquiry and tribunal. [18771/05]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

Name of Commission/ Inquiry/Tribunal	Cost Paid to 31/12/2004	Estimated Date of Completion	Estimated Final Cost
Tribunal of Inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of John Carthy at Abbeylara, County Longford on 20 April, 2000.	€8,147,368	Autumn 2005	€12,147,368
Tribunal of Inquiry into complaints concerning some gardaí of the Donegal Division.	€15.1m	It is not possible to give a precise indication but it is hoped that it will have completed its work by early 2006.	It is not possible to estimate the final cost of this tribunal. In addition to the actual costs of the tribunal itself, there will also be additional costs arising as a result of orders for costs which have yet to be determined.
Review of the action taken and of relevant papers held by the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform relevant to allegations that members of the Garda Síochána in the Donegal Division engaged in criminal, unethical or unprofessional behaviour — Report by Shane Murphy SC	€107,674.00	January 2002	€107,674.00
National Irish Bank Inquiry — The High Court appointed inspectors under the Companies Act on the application of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with effect from 1 April, 1998	€5,842,959.92 — this was reimbursed to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in April 2005.	The inspectors presented their report to the High Court on 12 July 2004	See across.
Ansbacher Inquiry — The High Court appointed inspectors to Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd. under the Companies Act on the application of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with effect from 22 September, 1999	The inspection cost of €3.45m was paid for by my Department, of which €1.25m was later reimbursed.	The inspection in relation to Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd. was completed in June 2002 and a Report was published.	See across
Inquiry carried out by Mr. Justice Francis D. Murphy under the provisions of Section 21 of the Courts of Justice (District Court) Act 1946 in relation to the propriety of Judge O’Buachalla’s handling of the licensing of Jack White’s Inn and the discharge of judicial functions in certain cases brought before him by two gardaí	Information not readily available in time allowed to answer parliamentary question. Information will be forwarded directly to Deputy by my Department as soon as possible.	Final report — November 2000	Information not readily available in time allowed to answer parliamentary question. Information will be forwarded directly to Deputy by my Department as soon as possible.

The Deputy should note that the information in the table relates to tribunals, commissions and other inquiries but does not include details in respect of working groups or similar review committees, although in some instances such groups might nonetheless be titled "commissions".