Tribunals of inquiry - Expensive but so very unavoidable

OF COURSE the tribunals were far too expensive. Of course they took far too long to report, and of course they were too cumbersome and fragmented; most certainly there were inappropriate leaks.

Of course there was a ready-made and persistent chorus of disapproval eager to deride them. It mattered not one whit that this Greek-chorus-for-hire had questionable motives and would have been happy to cheer had the tribunals been curtailed before their investigations were complete.

There was even a sinister attack on the Mahon Tribunal by some of Bertie Ahern’s cabinet, especially by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, when the tribunal was reaching conclusions with Mr Ahern. Of course the legal fees were beyond comprehension, and of course it must be all done differently the next time.