The Oireachtas has paid out €326,000 in legal costs arising from a legal challenge taken by Labour TD Brendan Howlin in relation to the Morris tribunal.
The payment follows a Supreme Court order last year directing the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges to pay the costs relating to the case.
Mr Howlin had brought the challenge against attempts by the tribunal to direct him to disclose the confidential source of allegations relating to Garda corruption in Donegal. The case related to the constitutional right of confidentiality which attaches to records belonging to a TD.
Mr Howlin's highlighting in the Dáil in 2000 of irregularities in Garda activity in Co Donegal had in part prompted the establishment of the tribunal. When the tribunal was set up, it sought information from Mr Howlin relating to specific allegations of irregularities which he had made.
Mr Howlin and former Fine Gael TD Jim Higgins were ordered by the tribunal to disclose documents relating to allegations made to them and which both politicians had put before the Minister for Justice in 2000.
Both politicians refused to reveal their sources and took High Court proceedings. The proceedings against Mr Higgins were resolved after his source, Donegal publican Frank McBrearty snr, agreed to disclosure of his identity.
In its judgment last year the Supreme Court found that members of the Oireachtas have no absolute constitutional privilege to withhold documents in their possession from parties outside the Oireachtas.
Following the judgment, senior counsel Martin Giblin came forward to identify himself as Mr Howlin's source.