The chairman of the tribunal warned the public yesterday before the evidence of Mr Charles Haughey began that there should be no interruptions as there had been with Mr Michael Lowry.
Mr Justice Moriarty said the evidence of Mr Haughey was going to be a crucial part of the tribunal's work, since he was someone in relation to whom a considerable proportion of the evidence heard over the last 70-odd days had related.
"But it is very important to stress that he remains another witness whose evidence requires to be heard fully and fairly in the tribunal's fact-finding and inquisitorial task," he said.
Secondly, as regarded the actual hearing of Mr Haughey's evidence that day and in subsequent days, fair procedures required that his evidence be heard without interruption.
"I am sure that nobody who has taken the trouble to attend here today would contemplate acting in an improper or unfair fashion," he said.
On an earlier occasion, the other political figure who was mentioned in the terms of reference, Mr Lowry, had been subjected to a limited level of mild interruptions which did not assist in the proper and fair processing of that witness's evidence.
"Accordingly, and I do not for a moment suggest that anyone has come here other than to form part of persons observing a public tribunal, I wish to make clear that there must be no interventions or interruptions or any want of fair procedures in the taking of this evidence," the chairman said.
He said Mr Haughey's evidence would be taken for two hours each day. In coming to this determination he had had regard to Mr Haughey's age, and to the considerable particularity with which his evidence would have to be taken and examined.
"And also, in the context of a considerable number of medical reports which have been made available for me solely by Mr Haughey's solicitors.
"I have had regard to the content of these and have, again by agreement with Mr Haughey's solicitors, asserted the entitlement to take up any queries I think appropriate with any of those medical practitioners and also should the contingency arise, although I think it unlikely, to make arrangements for an independent medical examination on my own behalf."
The tribunal would sit for four days next week, but in the afternoons there would be other witnesses.