Yesterday, three Departments provided up-to-date figures for fees paidto those representing the State at tribunals. Conor Lally reports.
Three barristers working on the Moriarty tribunal have shared almost €8.5 million in legal fees, according to figures released last night by the Department of An Taoiseach. And six barristers working on the Flood tribunal have made in excess of €1 million each since it began.
In response to a series of parliamentary questions yesterday to all Government Departments from the Fine Gael TD Mr Jim O'Keeffe, three Departments provided up-to-date figures for legal fees paid to those representing the State at various tribunals.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, said two senior counsel - Mr John O'Donnell and Mr Richard Law Nesbitt - and two junior counsel - Mr Diarmuid Rossa Phelan and Ms Conleth Bradley - had shared fees of €561,925 for their work at the Moriarty tribunal on the award of the second GSM licence.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr Cullen, listed payments made to the 21 members of various legal teams at the Flood tribunal. The payments total €12.3 million.
Mr John Gallagher SC, who represents the Flood tribunal, has made €2,079,551 including VAT and withholding tax. Mr Desmond O'Neill SC, has been paid €1,785,739, while Ms Patricia Dillon has been paid €1,535,732. All of the payments include VAT and withholding tax and cover the period up to last Thursday, June 12th.
Other high earners at the Flood tribunal include Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, on €1,460,343, Ms Eunice O'Raw BL, on €1,285,271 and Ms Mairead Coghlan €1,105,074. Surprisingly, 11 of the 21 legal representatives on the Flood tribunal list are women.
At the Moriarty tribunal, those representing the tribunal are faring even better than their Flood counterparts across the courtyard at Dublin Castle.
Since October 1997, Mr Jeremiah Healy SC, has collected €3,280,216 while Mr John Coughlan SC has earned almost as much, taking home €3,146,970. Ms Jacqueline O'Brien completes the high-earning trio having received €2,079,864 for her work at the tribunal since October 1997.
The Minister for Education and Science, Mr Dempsey, named seven representatives nominated to him by the Attorney General to represent him at the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, which was set up three years ago.
However, he was unable to say how much they had been paid to date.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, was similarly unable to provide details of payments, or indeed the names of those who received the payments. He said the information would be prepared and forwarded "shortly" to Mr O'Keeffe.
The deputy said the Government should explain fully the manner in which it chooses its legal representatives. "There are very significant amounts of money involved here and I think the process should be as clear and transparent as possible," he said.
Tribunal fees to date
Moriarty Tribunal Counsel
Jeremiah Healy SC 3,280,216
John Coughlan SC 3,146,970
Jacqueline O'Brien JC 2,079,864
John O'Donnell SC, Richard Law Nesbitt SC,
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan JC, Conleth Bradley JC shared €561,925
Flood Tribunal Counsel
John Gallagher SC €2,079,551
Desmond O'Neill SC 1,785,739
Patricia Dillion SC 1,535,732
Patrick Hanratty SC 1,460,343
Eunice O'Raw BL 1,285,271
Mairead Coghlan BL 1,105,074
Maire Aine Howard 760,381
Patrick Quinn SC 637,476
Felix McEnroy SC 531,855
Susan Gilvarry 285,470
Annette Foley 226,731
Adele Murphy 171,887
Caroline Williams 77,765
Sarah O'Connell 74,918
Damian Keaney 64,501
Cathal Murphy 61,555
Nicola Lowe 57,062
Cormac MacAmhlaigh 35,648
Padraig Gleeson 29,879
Marcelle Gribbin 27,042
Michael Ramsey14,665