New controls to be put on tribunals

THE Government will have the power to suspend or terminate future tribunals of inquiry under proposed legislation published yesterday.

Announcing the publication of the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the Bill would bring “significant benefits in terms of cost savings to the State.”

The Bill provides that, within three months of being set up, a tribunal will be required to make a statement of the estimated costs of the inquiry and how long it is likely to last.