Mahon tribunal report to be published 'within months'

THE OTHER major tribunal set up in the 1990s to investigate payments to politicians is due to report shortly. The final report of the planning or Mahon tribunal is at an advanced stage and will be published “within months”, a spokesman said yesterday.

Like the Moriarty tribunal, the planning tribunal was established in 1997 and has lasted far longer than anyone anticipated. Both inquiries held hearings in Dublin Castle but the planning tribunal has sat more frequently, with more than 900 days of public sittings racked up since 1999.

The way has been clear for the tribunal to publish its final report since last November, when the Supreme Court threw out the last remaining challenge to its proceedings. On that occasion, the court disallowed an appeal by developer Owen OCallaghan and other Cork-based individuals and companies against a High Court decision upholding the tribunals refusal to circulate draft findings before publication of its report.

The first phase of the inquiry investigated allegations concerning former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke, former Dublin assistant county manager George Redmond (right) and a number of builders and developers.

Since 2004, however, most of its investigations have stemmed from allegations made by former lobbyist Frank Dunlop about planning corruption in the Dublin area.

The latest official estimate of the cost of the inquiry stands at about €250 million, though many regard this as an underestimate as the final cost of third-party legal bills has yet to be determined.