We owe a great deal of gratitude to these two guys. We should listen carefully to what they have to say.

For all those moaning about the cost of the tribunal and taking pot shots at his “priceless” comment – he did not propose a multi million Euro tribunal and in this article is proposing an alternative to prevent such a cost ever mounting up again.

I personally agree that it was way too expensive, but at the same time it is the first time I can remember smug politicians who believed themselves to be above the law of the land finally being put on the spot. I just hope there are consequences now, otherwise it will end up being a waste of money in my books.

Bring on the anti-corruption department I say, and do it quick.

His recommendation needs to be followed ASAP, problem is that our leaders are probably shitting themselves at the prospect of this proposal.

As previously, think this guy is great and wish that there were more like him. Instead of just moaning about corruption in a pub or on forums like this (OK, forums like these didn’t exist back then), he got off his arse and did something about it. And not just for himself, but for the greater good.

Am sceptical, but hope that this tribunal actually brings some convictions – the Politicians need to be shitting themselves, otherwise they will never change!

The Tribunals brought €3 Billion in unpaid tax etc back to the government, while they cost €1 Billion – it was worth it. These bullies in the positions of power(for all the wrong reasons) need to be brought to task – and then jail. Just look at Oisin Quinn labour councillor who recently was found guilty of breaking 4 rules of ethics in the council chambers trying and succeeding in lobbying for planning on a developement he part owned. All this right under the noses of all to see – was he expelled or jailed? Never uncle Raoire wouldn’t have that. Not much has changed.

Very funny little country we have spend a fortune on a tribunal no criminal charges for the majority of the implicated parties all at the behest of two legal professionals

Colm is right, we need an anti-corrpution commission. He has done the state some service in starting the ball rolling with this one. Irish politics has had a rough few weeks over Mahon, but now we must get the political processes and party funding processes right. I remember Colm Mac Eochaidh from his attempts to get onto the Dublin MEP ticket in 2003 when I was in Dublin West FG. He seemed a very capable, articulate and energetic fella. I think the fall out from Mahon now shows why he didnt get on the ticket. Corruption runs deep in FF, FG and elsewhere … and the forces were against him!

No tribunals no commission use the police they need the practise look at the bank investigation getting a man out of bed at 6 am no breakfast and question him for 12 hours much more effective in my opinion

Frankly the tribunal was worth every penny in exposing these criminals and the endemic corruption. Even these useless gombeens in government can’t totally ignore the findings!

Definitely. Effective criminal law is what’s needed.

The tribunal did good work in exposing SOME of the political thieves that we have elected. We all hope but the vast majority don’t expect that they will be brought to justice.
However there can be NO EXCUSE for the ridiculous, exorbitant fees paid to the lawyers and barristers – NO EXCUSE and bye the way, we cant afford to pay them.

For every rat snagged you can almost be certain that a few more rats just about got away!

It’s all a money making machine for the lawyers

The Mahon tribunal has guesstimated costs of maybe a third of a billion, nearly four hundred times the total amount of cash ‘donations’ it uncovered. By all means debate the value of a Commission but please cost it in advance and then decide. Major changes in legislation are required to bring legal costs down to earth.

A brilliant idea. The Hong Kong and New South Wales Independent Commissions Against Corruption have made vast changes for the better in both locations.

The Hong Kong one, which works on the premise that anyone in receipt of government payments who has significant funds he/she cannot account for is guilty of corruption, has been particularly successful in making Hong Kong the cleanest of Asian states.

The problem in Ireland would be to find genuinely independent commissioners.

The Legal Aid Board is run by Judges, Barristers and Solicitors.

It would be cost effective to stop those who run the system from getting rich by abusing the system.

Statutory instruments 272 / 273 introduced by Mervyn Taylor (Solicitor) as so called Minister of Justice in 1996 spells out how they could obtain so much in these tribunals where those in tribunals in D’Olier Street get nothing.

My interpretation is that the legal fees obtained in these tribunals is blatant theft and if we get a police force that works it can be exposed.

I don’t think the information was priceless, I think it cost €250 million of our money…..

Greed ” thieves in balaclavas atleast ya knew you were robbed .when caught they go to prison not a job as a TD with full pension ” bring back spike island and use it for an upper class prison for the laugh

Someone looking to make another few millions.