cartoon
15-02-2007, 02:23 PM
Interesting the way McDowell was the one to moot ending the Mahon Trbunal yesterday. This is one the Italians would have been proud of if they pull it off.
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MINISTERS are moving to shut down the €1 billion Mahon Tribunal because the corruption probe is getting too close to Fianna Fáil for comfort, opposition parties last night claimed.
They dismissed Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s concern over the cost of the investigation as a smokescreen intended to save the Government from further embarrassing revelations.
Labour described the Cabinet’s “pincer movement” against the tribunal as “sinister and disturbing” — especially as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to give further evidence soon.
Mr McDowell signalled the tribunal was facing the axe due to spiralling costs, which he said could top €1bn.
“We have to ask ourselves do we keep going on relentlessly to the bitter end and pouring more and more money into an inquiry that is just confirming what we know already?” he said.
“And at some stage, we have to ask ourselves is it worth proceeding any further in those circumstances? It can’t go on forever.”
Environment Minister Dick Roche, whose department has responsibility for the Mahon Tribunal, backed the Tánaiste in wanting to bring “finality” to the probe.
However, the Taoiseach insisted he wanted to see Mahon complete its work.
“All I want to do is clear my name. I’m not going to call for the end of something I was subject to. Years ago we decided in all tribunals that there was a date they had to be finished by and if it wasn’t reached then the fees would come in at a lower level.
“I don’t think we’re going to see them winding up. I’m certainly not going to interfere,” Mr Ahern told NewsTalk as he revealed the inquiry had spent €400 on 12,000 discovery orders retrieving relevant documents.
The Mahon inquiry into planning corruption was established in 1997 under then chairman Mr Justice Feargus Flood. Leaks from the probe rocked the Government to its core last autumn with the so-called Bertiegate affair.
Labour’s environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore expressed alarm that ministers were raising the prospect of shutting the probe down as it is due to begin the Quarryvale module into alleged rezoning irregularities in Co Dublin.
“Failure of the Government to act on lawyers’ fees would not provide any justification to close down the Mahon Tribunal. This is particularly so when the tribunal is scheduled shortly to begin dealing with what will potentially be the most significant section of its work, the Quarryvale module, and when the Taoiseach is due to give evidence in the near future,” he said.
Green leader Trevor Sargent said Mr McDowell was abusing his power.
“I share the view of many that the motivation for this interference is more to protect the Taoiseach, who may be embarrassed during the Quarryvale module,” he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny branded the move against Mahon a “worrying development”.
Mr McDowell has already received Cabinet approval for a bill to shut down tribunals if the Government gets the backing of the Oireachtas. However, it is unlikely to become law before the general election.
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MINISTERS are moving to shut down the €1 billion Mahon Tribunal because the corruption probe is getting too close to Fianna Fáil for comfort, opposition parties last night claimed.
They dismissed Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s concern over the cost of the investigation as a smokescreen intended to save the Government from further embarrassing revelations.
Labour described the Cabinet’s “pincer movement” against the tribunal as “sinister and disturbing” — especially as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to give further evidence soon.
Mr McDowell signalled the tribunal was facing the axe due to spiralling costs, which he said could top €1bn.
“We have to ask ourselves do we keep going on relentlessly to the bitter end and pouring more and more money into an inquiry that is just confirming what we know already?” he said.
“And at some stage, we have to ask ourselves is it worth proceeding any further in those circumstances? It can’t go on forever.”
Environment Minister Dick Roche, whose department has responsibility for the Mahon Tribunal, backed the Tánaiste in wanting to bring “finality” to the probe.
However, the Taoiseach insisted he wanted to see Mahon complete its work.
“All I want to do is clear my name. I’m not going to call for the end of something I was subject to. Years ago we decided in all tribunals that there was a date they had to be finished by and if it wasn’t reached then the fees would come in at a lower level.
“I don’t think we’re going to see them winding up. I’m certainly not going to interfere,” Mr Ahern told NewsTalk as he revealed the inquiry had spent €400 on 12,000 discovery orders retrieving relevant documents.
The Mahon inquiry into planning corruption was established in 1997 under then chairman Mr Justice Feargus Flood. Leaks from the probe rocked the Government to its core last autumn with the so-called Bertiegate affair.
Labour’s environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore expressed alarm that ministers were raising the prospect of shutting the probe down as it is due to begin the Quarryvale module into alleged rezoning irregularities in Co Dublin.
“Failure of the Government to act on lawyers’ fees would not provide any justification to close down the Mahon Tribunal. This is particularly so when the tribunal is scheduled shortly to begin dealing with what will potentially be the most significant section of its work, the Quarryvale module, and when the Taoiseach is due to give evidence in the near future,” he said.
Green leader Trevor Sargent said Mr McDowell was abusing his power.
“I share the view of many that the motivation for this interference is more to protect the Taoiseach, who may be embarrassed during the Quarryvale module,” he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny branded the move against Mahon a “worrying development”.
Mr McDowell has already received Cabinet approval for a bill to shut down tribunals if the Government gets the backing of the Oireachtas. However, it is unlikely to become law before the general election.