Environment Minister keeping ‘an open mind’ on costs issue after Mahon meeting

THE Government is setting up a team of officials to finalise issues surrounding the costs and timescale of the Mahon Tribunal.

Environment Minister Dick Roche, who has responsibility for the tribunal, met yesterday with its chairman, Judge Alan Mahon, to discuss the issues.

The likely final cost of the tribunal caused a row between Judge Mahon and the Government in recent weeks.

After Tánaiste and Justice Michael McDowell stated his belief that the tribunal could end up costing more than 1 billion, Judge Mahon made clear his belief the final figure would be less than a third of that.

At the heart of the dispute is the size of the tribunal lawyers’ fees. In 2004, the Government announced that a reduced fee system for tribunals would not be applied to the Mahon inquiry until March 31 this year.

This was because it was believed the public hearings for Mahon would be completed by that date.

However, because of delays caused by legal actions, it is now clear the tribunal will be holding public hearings for some time yet.

What the Government must decide is whether to impose the reduced fee system now and risk the resignation of tribunal lawyers.

It is understood Judge Mahon made clear at yesterday’s meeting his opposition to any such attempt to reduce the lawyers’ fees.

It is thought likely that the Government will ultimately accede to his request that fees be maintained at their present levels.

A spokesman for the Environment Minister refused to comment on this, however, merely saying that Mr Roche was keeping “an open mind”.

In a further statement, the Environment Department described the meeting between the two men as “constructive” and said a team of officials would now be established to hammer out the issues over the next week.

“It was agreed that the tribunal registrar and a small team drawn from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Finance and the Attorney General’s office would cooperate over the coming week in finalising detailed information around these issues.”

Mr Roche will then report to the Cabinet on the issue, most likely on March 20.

The Cabinet does not meet next week as the Taoiseach will be travelling to the United States for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations.