Move to cap tribunal witness legal costs

THE Government will seek to cap the interest on third-party legal costs arising from the tribunals of inquiry when the Dáil returns in September.

Third-party costs are those of witnesses who give evidence to the tribunals. Because decisions on whether to award a witness their costs are generally not taken until a tribunal finishes each specific area of investigation, the question of interest on those costs can arise.

However, the Government, under pressure to curtail spending because of the deteriorating economic climate, has identified the tribunals as an area where costs can be reduced. And, knowing it will be unable to reduce tribunal lawyers’ fees, having tried and failed to do so in the past, it is instead looking at the area of interest on third-party legal costs.