Roche and Mahon meet to discuss tribunal legal fees

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is due to meet the chairman of the Mahon Tribunal today to discuss legal fees at the inquiry.

The meeting follows the controversy sparked by Tánaiste Michael McDowell last month when he questioned whether the tribunal should continue.

Mr McDowell claimed the final bill for the tribunal could reach €1bn, but Judge Alan Mahon subsequently rejected the claim, saying the figure should be around €300m.

A reduced fee regime for lawyers at the tribunal is due to come into force at the end of this month, but reports this morning say Mr Roche may defer the changes pending further Cabinet discussions.

Mr Roche came in for criticism at the time of last month's controversy when he backed up the Tánaiste's concerns about the inquiry taking several more years to complete its work.

The minister made the comments despite being told privately by Judge Mahon that public hearings should conclude early next year.