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The Green Party has stated that the
Minister for Justice's bluff has been called by Judge Alan Mahon.
Judge Mahon has written to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann today
suggesting that the total final costs of the Mahon Tribunal should
not exceed €300 million, rather than the €1 billion suggested by
Michael McDowell. Green
Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said "This is an
extraordinary rebuttal of the Minister for Justice's sensationalist
remarks yesterday. It is a worrying development when a Minister from
a Party that prides itself on its fiscal knowledge should be so
openly and publicly contradicted by a member of the judiciary.
"Minister McDowell should now
reflect on his remarks, and perhaps apologise for his inflationary
outburst. As a holder of high office he should be cautious about
bandying about figures that have no basis in reality.
"The Tribunals do not come cheap,
but their contribution to ridding this country of the legacy of
corrupt decisions cannot be measured. Hard-working communities are
bearing the cost of inappropriate planning decisions, and will have
to do so for generations to come. |
