Fresh leaf for tribunals

Tribunal junkies will soon be getting another fix

Tribunal junkies will soon be getting another fix. The Flood tribunal into alleged planning corruption in North Dublin is due to resume public hearings at Dublin Castle on September 21st. First item on the agenda is the return of James Stafford, with evidence concerning the bid for Century Radio.

Once he is finished, the tribunal moves into what is described as "an enormous section" on zoning, most of it relating to decisions on the 1991 draft development plan. The Luton-based developer, Tom Gilmartin, will be a star witness with his Quarryvale tale and the whole section should occupy the tribunal well into the new year. The Moriarty tribunal on payments to politicians may, depending on the readiness of counsel, resume the same day. Char- lie Haughey is due to continue his evidence, so it should get off to a lively start. The Lindsay haemophilia tribunal w ill be back next Tuesday and the Laffoy tribunal on child abuse will run on the same day.

RTE's reenactments will be back too, with Joe Taylor and Malcolm Douglas, but not until October 3rd. Tonight with Vincent Browne is being replaced by After Dark with Rodney Rice.