Tribunal lawyers granted €2,500-a-day extension deal

THE Government has granted Moriarty Tribunal lawyers another temporary extension of their extraordinarily high-fee structure, it confirmed last night.

Under an agreement made between former Finance Minister and the Chairpersons of Tribunals in 2004, the fees of its most senior lawyers would be cut from €2,500 a day to €900 a day if a tribunal failed to finish its work on time.

However, in November 2005, the Government bowed to a request from tribunal chairman Michael Moriarty for a six-month extension of that date whereby its three senior counsel would continue to command fees of €2,500 a day.

In a letter to Attorney General Rory Brady, Mr Justice Moriarty expressed concern that he would lose members of his team if the fees were to be cut.

Two of its three lead lawyers, John Coughlan and Jerry Healy, have each earned well in excess of €5 million in fees. The third, Jacqueline O’Brien, has earned in the region of €4m in fees.

Shortly after the first extension, the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted lawyers’ fees would be cut if the tribunal failed to finish its work by June 2006.

However, last summer the Government granted it another seven-month extension at the existing fees.

The second extension was until January 2007.

Yesterday the Government press spokesperson said that the Government was now in discussions with the tribunal about an extension.

The higher fee levels of €2,500 were being extended until mid-March, she said, pending the outcome of those discussions.

When asked if the Moriarty Tribunal was being allowed to continue to a conclusion without any reduction in fees, the spokesperson said that the fee structure was now under discussion.