The following were the terms of reference of the Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments) set up by resolution of the Oireachtas on February 6th, 1997, and by order of the then Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, on February 7th, 1997.
The tribunal was established "to enquire urgently into, and report to the Clerk of the Dail and make such findings and recommendations as it sees fit, in relation to the following definite matters of urgent public importance: -
(a) all payments in cash or in kind directly or indirectly whether authorised or unauthorised within or without the State which were made to or received by;
(i) persons who were between January 1st, 1986, and December 31st, 1996, members of the Houses of the Oireachtas,
(ii) their relatives or connected persons as defined in the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995,
(iii) Political parties
from Dunnes Holding Company and/or any associated enterprises ... and/or Mr Ben Dunne or any person on his behalf or any companies trusts or other entities controlled directly or indirectly by Mr Ben Dunne between January 1st, 1986, and December 31st, 1996, and the considerations, motives and circumstances therefor".