Mahon inquiry has cost over €30m

The cost of the Mahon tribunal has risen to over €30 million, according to new figures.

Two barristers on the tribunal have earned over €2 million, and a further four have been paid fees of more than €1 million each.

The long-running and most expensive tribunal in the history of the State cost €30,445,184.91 up to last week, according to the Department of the Environment, which pays the bills.

This includes legal and administrative costs but does not include the legal fees for parties represented at the tribunal.

Bills totalling over €20 million have already been submitted by witnesses who appeared during the first five years of the tribunal, and demands for a further €20 million are expected from parties who have not yet furnished bills.

The former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke, whom the tribunal has implicated in corrupt payments, is to take legal proceedings next year seeking the payment of his €10.5 million legal bills. Any attempt to withhold legal costs from Mr Burke or other figures who, according to the tribunal, hindered its work is likely to be stiffly resisted.

Against these costs, the tribunal's investigations into planning corruption have resulted in significant payments to the Revenue Commissioners. Last month, the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, said the Revenue Commissioners and the Criminal Assets Bureau had so far recovered €35.715 million "related to underpayments of tax" as a result of their investigations of issues from the Flood/Mahon tribunal.

The highest-earning tribunal barrister is Mr John Gallagher SC, who has been paid €2,248,000 in fees in the six years since he joined the tribunal.

Mr Des O'Neill SC was paid €1,963,000 between July 1998 and the end of September; his earnings have since passed the €2 million mark.

Other high-earning senior counsel include Ms Patricia Dillon, who was paid €1,834,000, and Mr Pat Hanratty, who earned €1,460,000 before he left the tribunal in November 2001.

Two junior barristers, who rarely question witnesses during public sessions, have also become tribunal millionaires. Ms Eunice O'Raw earned €1,466,000 and Ms Mairead Coughlan earned €1,244,000.

Sixteen other staff were paid amounts ranging between €900,000 and €13,200, although six of these appear to have left the tribunal.

The tribunal has completed five modules of investigation, and has another 15 to go. At present rates of progress, it could last for another 15 years or more.