Moriarty Tribunal: The chairman said the tribunal's inquiry into the 1995 second mobile phone licence competition will end during the coming law term.
The tribunal has yet to hear evidence on the matter from the then minister for transport, energy and communications, Mr Michael Lowry. Mr Denis O'Brien, chairman of the winning consortium, Esat Digifone, has also to complete his evidence.
The tribunal conducted a year-long private inquiry into the competition before moving on in December 2002 to hearing public evidence. It adjourned yesterday and is to resume hearings after the Easter break, at a date to be announced. The coming legal term ends in July.
As well as the tribunal's own legal team, a legal team for the Department, for Mr O'Brien, and for Norwegian firm Telenor, formerly a major shareholder in Esat Digifone, have been present for the entire period. Legal representatives for Mr Lowry have also been in regular attendance as have legal teams for the various witnesses. There have been 123 days of public hearings into the licence inquiry and 286 days of public hearings since the tribunal was established.
The eventual legal bill arising from the licence inquiry alone could be in excess of €15 million and possibly significantly in excess of that.
Mr Justice Moriarty's report on his inquiry into payments to Mr Charles Haughey and Mr Lowry, and a number of other matters, is not expected until 2005, at the earliest. It is not clear whether further hearings into other matters - such as decisions made by Mr Haughey while in office - may yet be held. The eventual bill from the tribunal will not be known until bills are submitted after the tribunal's conclusion.
