New legislation governing tribunals of inquiry to be put before the Dáil next week will give the Government power to close the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals, it has emerged.
The Government has put aside most of Wednesday and Thursday to deal with the Tribunal of Inquiry Bill, 2005, which was published last November by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Last night Labour TD Brendan Howlin said the public will not believe that the Government has "fast-tracked from obscurity" the legislation by accident.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday clearly blamed the Mahon tribunal for being responsible for leaking the story that businessmen had been asked to account for payments made to him.
He said he had supplied all the papers surrounding the purchase of his home in Dublin: "I will wake up one of these mornings to see them in the newspapers too.
"I have no doubt, because it seems as if everything I gave in is out. That is how I feel about it. I can do nothing about it and I can do nothing about the other issues," he said.
However, the records of Mr Ahern's purchase of the house from Michael Wall in 1994 are public documents held in the Registry of Deeds.
Last night the Department of Justice confirmed that the legislation could be used to close down existing tribunals, and not just ones set up after it becomes law.
Under Section 10 of the Bill, the responsible minister will be given powers to "dissolve" a tribunal by ministerial order, after the Oireachtas has approved it.
Questioning the timing and purpose of the legislation, Mr Howlin said: "The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill was published 12 months ago and it has been on the Order Paper since then but is now scheduled for next week.
"It will be difficult for the public to believe that this Bill, one of whose provisions gives the Government the power to shut down tribunals, should become the priority Bill for next week.
"Will it not be seen as an attempt to intimidate the tribunals?
"Would it not be sensible for the orderly and proper business of the House to put it back so it would not be dealt with in an atmosphere where a succession of Ministers have been upset with tribunals?" he asked.
Replying, the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, said: "It is scheduled for next week. There were calls for it to be brought forward and that is happening."