Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that the Mahon tribunal will not be prevented by the Government from finishing its work.
"I want to see them finish because the last thing I personally want to see is that anyone could ever say I closed down something," he said.
". . . I think they have to come to their conclusion and to finish their work. They have been frustrated numerous times as well, so it's not all their fault."
Collectively, the tribunals had sought the bank records of 12,000 individuals and companies, Mr Ahern said. Speaking before attending a meeting of the social partners, he continued: "We're told that that is €400 million. The third party fees, I don't know what they are, and I suppose nobody can judge that, even the tribunal at this stage. There are solicitors up and down the country who haven't been paid for 10 years and their fees are in it."
The sum of money allocated this year in the Department of the Taoiseach's budget for one of the tribunals could "go to one individual". The costs were escalating to huge amounts. "That's one side. The other side is we have to work to finish them, obviously," he went on.
However, the Government had not made any decision yet to enforce reduced fees for lawyers. "That matter is under discussion. There is no decision on that matter."
The Minister for the Environment and Local Government had a job to do to reach a conclusion with all the tribunal lawyers still receiving full fees. Some outstanding chapters of the Mahon tribunal had to be "dealt with", he added. "But does it just go on ad infinitum? I don't think anybody wants that either."
