The Taoiseach has received legal advice that it is not possible to make a decision on whether to award costs to the McBrearty family at the Morris Tribunal.
Bertie Ahern told the Dáil his advice from the Department of Justice and the Attorney General, Rory Brady, was that a guarantee on costs could not be given in advance of the tribunal finishing its current module.
He said this was because the issue of costs was solely a matter for the tribunal, and it could only make such a decision when it had concluded its work. The tribunal is examining allegations of garda corruption in Co Donegal.
The issue was raised by Labour TD Joe Costello, who called for an urgent debate on the concerns of the McBrearty family.
Yesterday Frank McBrearty Snr walked out of the Morris Tribunal. He later said the failure to guarantee his legal team its costs meant he was left in an impossible situation.
Mr McBrearty Snr, his wife and his sister were at Leinster House this afternoon publicising their grievances and concerns.
