The High Court was yesterday asked by lawyers for Mr Liam Lawlor TD to consider adjourning until October its consideration of a complaint from the Flood tribunal that he had not met all his obligations to it in relation to providing documents sought.
Mr John Trainor SC said Mr Lawlor had furnished all the documents in his possession or procurement and had given an explanation about those which he was unable to furnish.
Since January, Mr Lawlor had furnished the tribunal with 25,000 pages, while 68 affidavits had been sworn and inquiries had been made from 272 separate parties, Mr Trainor said. Mr Lawlor had been mindful of the obligations imposed upon him to make full discovery and had complied with those.
Notwithstanding, the tribunal might say there had been a failure to make full discovery. The court should look at the evidence and take into account Mr Lawlor's explanation as to why all the documents were not before the tribunal.
If there had been any failure on the part of his client to make further inquiries or to take further steps, his instructions were that he was perfectly willing to take such action.
He suggested the High Court proceedings be adjourned until October. His client had complied with the January orders of the court.
If the court believed there was anything further Mr Lawlor could do, he would do so.
The hearing resumes today.