The opening of the haemophilia tribunal today brings to four the number of inquiries and tribunals examining various sins of commission and of omission on the part of private institutions, institutions of the State and individuals associated with one or the other, or both.
The Flood tribunal continues its examination of allegations of corruption in the planning process. The Moriarty tribunal is due to continue its inquiry into the financial affairs of Mr Charles Haughey and Mr Michael Lowry, and any influence these may have had on decisions they made. High Court judges are both the chairmen and sole members of these tribunals.
Meanwhile, the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, composed of members of the Oireachtas, is inquiring into the payment, and non-payment, of DIRT tax by banks, and the use of bogus non-resident accounts.
There is a further inquiry on the horizon. This is the commission to inquiry into child abuse, announced by the Minister for Education earlier in the year following revelations of systematic abuse of children in industrial schools. That commission, to be chaired by a High Court judge, Ms Justice Laffoy, is at the stage of considering its terms of reference.