A date for a High Court challenge by Dunnes Stores to an inquiry ordered by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Ms Harney, into the affairs of two of its companies has not yet been fixed because of a shortage of judges. The inquiry is now blocked until the court rules on the challenge.
In court yesterday, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Morris, told counsel for Dunnes that there was simply no judge available to hear the action. He acknowledged the urgency of the matter but said all he could do was to adjourn it for two weeks.
The Dunnes group is seeking to quash a Ministerial Order setting up an inquiry to look into the affairs of two of its companies - Dunnes Stores Ireland and Dunnes Stores Ilac Centre Ltd.