Warning as tribunal costs continue to rise

THE State has paid in excess of €320 million in recent years for tribunals, commissions and inquiries, new figures have revealed.

Well over half the amount has been paid in legal fees, with over €120m to tribunal and commission lawyers and over €45m to lawyers appearing for third parties. The figures buttress last week’s prediction by the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Michael Noonan that the ultimate cost of tribunals will be in excess of €1bn.

Mr Noonan said it was unacceptable that tribunals were allowed operate on the basis of an “open chequebook” with no real analysis of their costs.