NEW DIFFICULTIES facing the production of the Moriarty tribunal’s final report were discussed at a meeting last Thursday between the tribunal chairman and Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
News of the meeting between Mr Cowen and Mr Justice Moriarty was revealed last night by a Government spokesman, who said it had taken place at the request of the judge.
“The meeting covered resourcing of the tribunal,” he said.
The spokesman added that Mr Cowen made it clear to the judge that he would communicate the matters raised to the other party leaders at their meeting, which will take place this afternoon.
One of the three senior counsel working for tribunal, John Coughlan SC, is on extended sick leave.
The meeting of party leaders was sought by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny last Tuesday when it emerged that Mr Justice Michael Moriarty had written to the Oireachtas indicating his preference for breaking his final report into two sections.
That meeting will take place this afternoon in Government Buildings when Mr Cowen will brief Mr Kenny as well as Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore and Sinn Féin’s Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.
A Fine Gael spokesman said last night that they had not been aware of the meeting between Mr Cowen and the tribunal chairman and would see what transpired at the meeting today with the party leaders.
Mr Justice Moriarty wrote to the Taoiseach on Friday, May 21st seeking a meeting and the letter was received on Monday, May 24th. The letter from the judge was dispatched to the Oireachtas on May 25th.
In that letter, the judge said that due to recent developments, he was giving consideration to breaking his final report in two and publishing a portion of it as a separate volume in the near future.
Mr Justice Moriarty said he was considering an early report on the “money trail” involving former minister Michael Lowry, but the investigation into the awarding of the first mobile phone licence would be published at a later stage.
Following the receipt of that letter last Tuesday, both Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore indicated that they were not enthusiastic about the plan to postpone part of the final report.
Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore sought a meeting with Mr Cowen to discuss a joint response.
Mr Gilmore noted the judge’s view that he was considering the early publication of an interim report on the “money trail”.
However, Mr Gilmore added that his party’s principal concern was that any such decision ought not to contribute to further delay or obstruction in bringing the work of the tribunal to finality.
“It is my view that the public interest will now best be served by ensuring that the tribunal is brought to a conclusion as speedily and economically as possible, consistent with it meeting the terms of reference given to it by the Dáil, and a final report published at the earliest possible date,” Mr Gilmore said.
The Taoiseach has not given any indication of what he feels about the judge’s letter but is expected to clarify his position today.