Interim Flood report to appear today

After five years of investigation, 337 days of public hearings and 190 witnesses, the interim report of the Flood tribunal is to be published today.

The Government has been alerted to the publication of Mr Justice Flood's report and a copy will be placed in the Dáil library this morning. Copies will also be circulated to parties represented at the tribunal before it is made generally available.

Sources claim the report will be hard-hitting, with specific recommendations for new laws on corruption and planning. Mr Justice Flood singles out a number of witnesses for criticism over the evidence they gave to the tribunal.

The report comes in one volume, with more than 250 pages of findings and more than 500 pages of appendices. Most of the report deals with controversial payments made by a number of businessmen to former Fianna Fáil minister, Mr Ray Burke.

Although Mr Burke has long retired from political life, Mr Justice Flood's findings may yet cause some embarrassment for the Taoiseach. Mr Ahern reappointed Mr Burke to the Cabinet in June 1997 in spite of the allegations then circulating about him.

The PD leader and Tánaiste, Ms Harney, and another Fianna Fáil minister, Mr Dermot Ahern, gave evidence to the tribunal briefly in May 1999. The report is expected to examine the discrepancies between the various statements made by Ms Harney, Mr Ahern and the Taoiseach about events around this time in mid-1997.

The man who started it all with his allegation of a payment to Mr Burke, retired building company executive Mr James Gogarty, is said by friends to be eagerly awaiting the report.

Mr Gogarty turned 86 last May.