MR JUSTICE McCracken yesterday emphasised how dependent the tribunal will be "on the cooperation of all parties" if it is to be expedited as quickly as possible.
Unlike the hepatitis C tribunal, however, the Dunnes Tribunal had received almost no documents, "except for the report from Judge Buchanan," he said.
"A considerable amount of investigating" was taking place, and he hoped that "some shape and logic" would be put on the information over coming weeks.
He wished to reassure parties to the tribunal that only confidential information - "whether commercial or personal that was strictly relevant" would be put in evidence, and counsel for the tribunal would discuss measures (with relevant legal representatives) "to protect confidentiality wherever possible".
The tribunal, he said, was anxious to contact former members of the Oireachtas, who had served since January 1st, 1986. Advertising had been used to contact such people, as they may have changed address, and there being no other way to do so.
He explained that the nature of the tribunal - would be "inquisitorial," not "adversarial, as in the courts," and that the rules of natural justice would apply as the need arose.
It was not possible to give a definite starting date for the hearing of oral evidence, he said, but he hoped this might happen "one or two weeks after Easter". Easter Sunday is on March 30th.
