Lawyers for the Oireachtas sub-committee inquiring into cost overruns in CI╔'s mini-CTC rail signalling project were told by a High Court judge yesterday their application to overturn an interim court order staying the inquiry could not be heard before next Tuesday.
Mr Felix McEnroy SC, for the sub-committee, had argued for the matter to be heard before then. If not, counsel told Mr Justice Kelly, "irreparable damage" would have been done because a witness from Taiwan who is to give evidence is due to return there tomorrow and could not be compelled to come back.
Mr McEnroy may make an application today to the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Morris, for the matter to be heard before Tuesday.
Counsel was told by Mr Justice Kelly yesterday that the judge had discussed the situation with Mr Justice Morris and a judge was not available now.
The widow of the former CI╔ chief executive Mr Michael McDonnell was granted a temporary order on Wednesday halting the signalling project inquiry.
Yesterday, Mr McEnroy said the witness who had come from Taiwan was due to leave tomorrow. Asked by Mr Justice Kelly why the witness could not come back, counsel said the sub-committee could not compel him to do so. It had gone to great efforts to get him to come here and could not compel him to come back.