Flood report likely to be published tomorrow

The Flood Tribunal report, which is expected to contain criticism of former Minister Mr Ray Burke, is likely to be published …

The Flood Tribunal report, which is expected to contain criticism of former Minister Mr Ray Burke, is likely to be published tomorrow.

Copies of the long-awaited report on the first five years of investigations into allegations of planning corruption are also expected to contain tough new anti-corruption laws and new planning regulations.

The roles of the former Fianna Fail minister Mr Burke and his acquaintances, builders Mr Tom Brennan and Mr Joe McGowan, are expected to be central to tomorrow's report.

During its hearings the tribunal heard that the men failed to reveal £125,000 in offshore payments to Mr Burke between 1982 and 1985. These payments were uncovered by the tribunal.

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Mr Justice Flood will have to decide whether any of the payments to Mr Burke amounted to corruption or whether they were legitimate political contributions as Mr Burke maintains.

The tribunal was established in November 1997 and has sat in public for 337 days. So far it has cost €21.5 million. It has not sat since last October and when it resumes public sittings Mr Justice Flood will be joined by three additional judges.