New "Tribunals Bill" Introduced Into The Dáil

The Government introduced controversial new legislation which would give them the power to close down tribunals of inquiry on Tuesday.

Fine Gael has already questioned the proposed new powers, claiming that they could be used by officials to preventing damaging evidence from making its way into the public domain.

The opposition has also suggested that the Government introduced the legislation in order to intimidate the Mahon Tribunal before the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern returns to the witness.

The Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, T.D., rejected this accusation, insisting that the bill will apply to future tribunals only and that the measure is intended to help control the spiralling cost of tribunals.