Legal fees 'account for 80% of total tribunal costs'

Taxpayers have reportedly paid out almost €230m in recent years on tribunals investigating issues ranging from planning corruption to the retention of children's organs.

Reports this morning say new government figures show €180m of this figure has been spent on legal fees, making millionaires of some of the country's top barristers.

The Planning Tribunal has reportedly cost the most at €52m, followed by the Lindsay Tribunal (€46m), the Child Abuse Commission (€31m), the Moriarty Tribunal (€25m) and the Morris Tribunal (€23m).

This morning's reports say barrister John Coughlan has been the main beneficiary among the legal profession, earning more than €5m to date from his work on various tribunals.

Jerry Healy SC and Jacqueline O'Brien SC have also reportedly earned more than €3.8m each.