The Dail Public Accounts Committee is preparing for a marathon run of hearings into the collection of DIRT tax which will continue through September.

"I think some of us are in a bit of shock about the scale of what we have got ourselves into in the sense that it is going to be very much to the exclusion of other constituency business," says committee member Mr Pat Rabbitte.

In preparation for their role members have had sessions with their legal team, led by Mr Frank Clarke SC, and with accountant, Mr Eugene McMahon, and have met to agree on how to comply with the new legislation.

"We have gone to the IPA [Institute of Public Administration] for a day to go through the laws of evidence," he said. The sub-committee will benefit from the expertise of some of the membership. Mr Rabbitte has a law degree and Mr Sean Ardagh is an accountant.

Mr Rabbitte maintains that the decision to involve the Comptroller and Auditor General outside of his traditional, constitutional role in the DIRT investigation has been vindicated in the light of the report produced by him. "That is a big plus and now our task is to make findings of fact and recommendations to the Dail."

He describes the sub-committee's role as "a milestone in terms of parliamentary accountability" and says its "capacity to perform will decide whether it will be a success".

Mr Rabbitte says that for the prestige of parliament, it is important that the sub-committee members are seen to be able to do investigative work themselves.