Name: Mr Justice Michael Moriarty.

Born: 1946, Belfast. His family moved to Dublin in 1960.

Education: Blackrock College, Dublin. UCD. Kings Inn. Called to the bar in 1968.

Career: He became a senior counsel in 1982, was appointed chairman of the Employment Appeals Tribunal in 1986, became a Circuit Court judge in 1987. Appointed to the High Court in March 1996.

Family: Married to Ms Mary Irvine SC. They have one son and two daughters, and live in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Reputation: Is considered to be an excellent judge who takes great care with his rulings. During his time with the Circuit Court he regularly deferred sentencing until he had studied probation officers' reports, often taking them home at weekends. Colleagues describe him as personable.

Why in the news: The tribunal, of which he is chairman and which is investigating the finances of Mr Charles Haughey and Mr Michael Lowry, began its public hearings yesterday. Over the coming weeks and possibly months, the Moriarty tribunal, along with the Flood inquiry into corruption in the planning process, is likely to be at the centre of media and political debate.