Legal fees push cost of tribunals to €200m

THE running costs of sitting tribunals will have risen to a staggering €200 million by the end of the year, with legal fees making up the bulk of the spending.

The latest figures emerged as the Government decided yesterday to extend the deadline for the Moriarty Tribunal by six months to June 30, 2006.

Moreover, the extension means the inquiry’s three senior counsel will continue to be paid at the rate of €2,500 per day and not at a reduced fee level of €969 per day that was due to take effect for the tribunal on January 11, 2006.