Moriarty Tribunal chairman admits 'not insignificant errors'

The chairman of the Moriarty Tribunal has accepted that his tribunal has made what he says are two "not insignificant errors" in relation to the key matter before it.

One was in relation to the view attributed to the Attorney General in a February 2008 ruling and the second due to the belated production of a note about a meeting between the tribunal's lawyers and the AG's office in 2002.

Mr Justice Michael Moriarty's comments were made in response to a number of submissions by various parties at the inquiry into the awarding of the State's second mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone.

However, he says he still has a duty to continue to inquire into the matter and that his final view will be conditioned in a number of ways.

On Thursday, Friday and yesterday an official at the Attorney General's office Denis McFadden said he had "no doubt" that legal advice was given to the Department of Communications in 1996 about a "change of ownership" issue.

Mr McFadden's evidence has not been challenged by the Tribunal, prompting calls for this line of inquiry to be declared "dead".

Following a number of submissions today Mr. Justice Moriarty admitted that errors had been made.

Mr Justice Moriarty says he will take steps to rectify - with promptness - the errors which he says he will "take on the chin".

He says he still has a duty to continue to inquire into the matter and that his final view will be conditioned in a number of ways.