Party leaders agree to tell Moriarty to wind up report

THE leaders of the Dáil’s political parties have agreed to send a message to the chairman of the Moriarty Tribunal telling him to wrap up his report as quickly as possible.

This will indicate to Mr Justice Michael Moriarty that he should stick to the terms of the original inquiry.

This suggests the party leaders are not keen on Mr Justice Moriarty’s suggestion that the report be split in two to allow the least disputed findings be published first.

A statement on behalf of Taoiseach Brian Cowen said there would be a unified response.

“The party leaders met this afternoon and discussed Judge Moriarty’s letter of May 25 to the clerk of the Dáil.

“They are anxious that the tribunal’s work be completed as soon as possible consistent with its mandate and intend that a reply will be issued to the judge’s letter shortly,” a statement said.

The letter will be drafted by the Department of the Taoiseach before it is approved by the various parties. It will then be given to the clerk of the Dáil, Kieran Coughlan, to send to Mr Justice Moriarty on behalf of the Dáil.

Party spokespersons did not say whether the issue of additional resources was discussed or agreed to.

The Taoiseach and Mr Justice Moriarty met privately at Government Buildings last week when the extra resources required to finish the Tribunal was explored.

Most recent figures revealed €31 million had been paid to the tribunal’s legal team, including €382,140 to its two senior counsel, John Coughlan and Jerry Healy, for the first four months of this year. According to the figures Mr Coughlan did not claim fees for March and April.