Cowen declines comment on tribunal threat to papers

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen refused to be drawn on the Moriarty tribunal's weekend threat to two newspapers with immediate injunctions to prevent them publishing stories about the provisional findings in its final report.

"I do not comment on media reports when a very important process is still ongoing," said Mr Cowen.

He was replying to Labour deputy leader Joan Burton.

"Did the Taoiseach see the reports in the newspapers that The Irish Timesapparently had to junk approximately 20,000 copies because of approaches from the tribunal in respect of matters pertaining to the tribunal?" she asked.

"Similarly, the Sunday Business Posthad to address matters raised by the tribunal."

Ms Burton asked if "the Government obtained additional legal advice on the possible findings of the tribunal and possible press reports on adverse findings, or potentially adverse comments, perhaps in regard to public servants".

Ms Burton said that the allocation for the tribunal last year was €10 million and that had been reduced to €7.5 million for this year.

She added that if the report was published before the end of this year, a significant proportion of the costs would become payable next year.

She asked if Mr Cowen expected to introduce a supplementary estimate to cover the costs.

Mr Cowen said the tribunal had spent €3.302 million up to the end of October.

"While it is expected the second and final report of the tribunal may be published by the end of this year, the latest information suggests it may be published early next year," he added.

"It is not anticipated that third-party costs of award will be finalised in time for payment this year."

Mr Cowen said an estimated €3 million would be saved on the total allocation for this year.

"Additional costs that may arise at the end of the year include those for the concluding briefs for legal teams," he added.

Asked about expenditure in his department, Mr Cowen said there had been no "spend" in his department's administrative budget on public relations between January and October of this year.

However, the National Forum on Europe spent €108,182 on public relations.

Spending on consultancy services by his department was €195,323.

Further to the Department of Finance requirements, said Mr Cowen, the department had reduced the budget allocation for consultancy by 50 per cent this year and spending would continue to be monitored.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that, in recent years, he had found the public service had been sidelined to a great extent by the Government conducting so many consultancy reports.

"Is it a matter of course that the public service in any department is asked whether it has the capacity to do a report on a particular issue before a decision is made by a Minister for Government to request an outside consultancy report into some aspect of Government?" he added.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin said that last July, the Government had announced a number of cost-saving measures in each department.

Mr Cowen said the total saving from the July decisions was about €740,000, while the budget relating to consultancies had been reduced by half.