The Government is attempting to resolve "amiably" the impasse over legal fees for the Flood tribunal on planning in Dublin, the Taoiseach told the House. "We want to get competent people. We want to get the best people, but we do not want to pay exorbitant fees that the State should not have to pay in these cases," Mr Ahern added.
He told the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, he had no plans to amend the tribunal's terms of reference, and he hoped the Minister for Finance and the Attorney General could resolve the matter. Mr Quinn said Mr Justice Flood was clearly having difficulties in finding suitable personnel to operate the tribunal.