A Dáil committee investigating cost overruns on a CIE signalling project is to meet again to finalise what it says is an interim report, even though it may never be able to finish its inquiry. The committee, chaired by Sean Doherty, had been looking into how the estimated cost of Iarnród Éireann's mini-CTC project rose dramatically, and also into a separate deal between CIÉ and Esat Telecom, under which fibre optic phone cables were laid along railway lines.
However, with just one more day's evidence to be heard, the inquiry was suspended last November, because of a High Court decision about another Oireachtas inquiry into the Abbeylara shooting.
The High Court held that Oireachtas committees were not entitled to reach conclusions about individuals, making investigations by such committees pointless.
A Supreme Court ruling on an appeal is still awaited but it is not likely in time to allow the committee finish its work before the election. The committee met this evening to consider the situation and is to meet again next Tuesday.
