Dáil to introduce new tribunals bill today

20/11/2007 - 08:38:52
Controversial new legislation giving the Government the power to close down tribunals of inquiry is due to be introduced in the Dáil today.

The Government says the bill is designed to help control the costs of tribunals, but it will also give the Oireachtas the power to end or suspend them.

Fine Gael has severely attacked the legislation, claiming it could be used in the future to preventing damaging evidence from making its way into the public domain.

The party has also accused the Government of introducing the legislation in an attempt to intimidate the Mahon Tribunal before the Taoiseach returns to the witness box in the coming weeks.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, however, has rejected this, saying the bill will only apply to future tribunals.