The tribunal yesterday took the unusual step of issuing a statement making clear that it has never submitted a secret report to Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
The statement said that it had come to the attention of the tribunal that a number of media sources had speculated as to whether the tribunal had made a secret report of some matter to the Minister.
"The tribunal has issued two reports: on Explosives Finds in 2004 and on the Barron Death Investigation in 2005. There are no other reports," it said.
It continued that under the legislation, the tribunal was required to issue any report to the person to whom it was required to report to under the terms of reference.
When a person received a report from the tribunal, an application to the High Court could be made by that person if they considered that it might prejudice criminal proceedings. The High Court may then issue directions as to the publication, or non publication, of the report, in whole or in part. Such an application may be heard otherwise than in public, the statement said.
"In respect of the work of this tribunal, there has been no such application. All reports were issued in full," it concluded.