THE contents of Judge Gerard Buchanan's report into payments to politicians by Dunnes Stores are expected to become public today.
Two months after he was charged with extracting the names of politicians from the Price Waterhouse report, Judge Buchanan will today formally hand over the first phase of his work to the Ceann Comhairle of the Dail, Mr Sean Treacy.
Following the presentation in Leinster House, Mr Treacy will then give the sealed envelope with the much anticipated report to a sub committee of the Dail's Committee on Procedures and Privilege.
The judge will also deliver a copy to the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Mr Liam Cosgrave, as the Dail CPP has no jurisdiction over members of the Upper House.
Legal counsel will advise the sub committee on how to proceed, but last night one of its members, Mr Jim O'Keeffe of Fine Gael, emphasised the need to publish the report today. Sources in the other parties reiterated that it should be published.
"Unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary, the report should be published," Mr O'Keeffe said.
There is considerable speculation in political circles that the former Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Michael Lowry, is the only politician named in the report.
Though the contents of the report are a closely guarded secret, it is widely believed that a senior Fianna Fail figure alleged to have received £1.1 million will not be mentioned.
Only four of the five member CPP sub committee are available to examine the report today as the former Progressive Democrat leader, Mr Des O'Malley is attending the United Nations in New York and will not return until Saturday. His absence, however, does not prevent his colleagues on the sub committee from proceeding with the business but they cannot take evidence until all members are present.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, urged the Government to move quickly to establish a tribunal of inquiry into the Dunnes Stores payments affair, saying the present approach was unworkable. She also questioned the Government's willingness to get to the bottom of the issue.
During a visit to Dundalk yesterday, she said time was of the essence in finding out all the facts.
"We need to establish the truth before any general election campaign gets under way to lift the cloud which still hands over politics. It is now clear this will not happen through the work of the Dail sub committee," she added.
Without the authority to compel witnesses to attend, the committee's role has been rendered meaningless and a tribunal was now" the only way to go".
The Government's Compellability of Witnesses' Bill is more concerned with exempting individuals from appearing than achieving real democratic accountability, she added.