Ahern defends McDowell’s tribunal role

THE Taoiseach has utterly denied there is any reason why Minister for Justice Michael McDowell cannot draw up legislation allowing legal costs at the Flood Tribunal be decided by the new chairman.

Minister McDowell's past tribunal work for Cork property developer Owen O'Callaghan does not compromise his ability to handle the drafting of the amending legislation, according to Mr Ahern.

The issue arose as a result of Justice Feargus Flood's retirement and replacement by Judge Alan Mahon as chairman of the Planning Tribunal before the costs issue was decided.