The Supreme Court yesterday deferred, until the autumn, a hearing to decide liability for costs of the action last year by Mr Charles Haughey and members of his family against the Moriarty tribunal.
The question of costs - estimated at more than £300,000 - had been adjourned at the time of the judgment in July 1998.
Proceedings against the Moriarty tribunal were taken by Mr Haughey, his wife Maureen, his daughter Eimear Mulhern and his sisters Maureen and Ethna Haughey.
In July 1998, the Supreme Court quashed 36 orders of the Moriarty tribunal which gave it access to the bank accounts of Mr Haughey and other Haughey family members.
The court found that fair procedures were not followed by the tribunal when it made orders compelling discovery of documents relating to the Haugheys'
financial affairs. It directed that the tribunal may not have the benefit of such documents.
At the time of the judgment, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton, said the quashing of the existing orders regarding the Haugheys' accounts did not prevent the tribunal making similar orders in the future, provided fair procedures were applied.
The case had been before the Supreme Court by way of an appeal against a High Court decision in April 1998 rejecting the Haugheys' proceedings to stop the tribunal probing their finances.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court again adjourned the application, until the autumn. Counsel for the Haughey family said the situation "may require other proceedings to be taken in these proceedings" and more time was needed to consider the position.