Independent TD Michael Lowry has launched an attack on the Moriarty Tribunal in the Dáil.
Michael Lowry has accused the tribunal of running up ‘outrageous costs’ and issuing findings to suit its theories rather than being based on facts.
Deputy Lowry, whose business dealings are under investigation by the tribunal, has claimed that the Chairman, Mr Justice Moriarty, had ‘conceded control’ to his legal team, which has led to lengthy proceedings.
He said there was a ‘rich gravy train’ and it was time someone 'put a stop to it', adding that costs would mount and legal challenges continue as long as the tribunal team ‘insists on making findings to suit their theories’.
Deputy Lowry said if this ‘legal jamboree’ had been televised there would have been public outrage and the public would have demanded action to close it down.
Earlier, it emerged that the tribunal has cost just under €40m to date without including third party costs.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil this afternoon that the cost of the tribunal to date was €39.36m but that it was not possible to estimate third party costs.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked if the Taoiseach believed the chairman was in a position to produce a credible and impartial report, given that two mistakes by the tribunal had led to extra costs and extra sittings.
The Taoiseach said he had enquired how long it would take before the tribunal report was completed, he had been told it was not possible to say, but the chairman believed it would not delay matters by more than a few months.
