User:Jnestorius/Public inquiries in Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, a tribunal of inquiry is a tribunal established to produce findings of fact in relation to a matter of urgent public importance. Typically, a tribunal is a response to a political scandal or controversy. Its proceedings use an inquisitorial system. It produces a report for the Oireachtas, documenting its findings and making recommendations arising.

Legal procedure
A tribunal consists of one of more Members, typically lawyers or judges, one of whom is the chair. The chair may be the sole member. Assessors, experts in the topic under review, may assist the members. The Tribunal has powers equal to those of the High Court to order witnesses to appear and give evidence, and for the production of documents. Witnesses and the tribunal itself can have legal counsel as at a trial. However, a tribunal is not a trial, and does not decide questions of justice.

The chair of the inquiry is mandated by the Oireachtas. following resolutions in both the Dáil and the Seanad, to carry out the inquiry into matters of urgent public importance. The terms of reference of the inquiry are given as part of the chair's Warrant of Appointment.

The primary legislation governing tribunals is the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921, passed by the Westminster Parliament prior to the 1922 creation of the Irish Free State. Subsequent amending Acts have been passed by the Oireachtas: in 1979, 1997, 1998 (twice), 2002, and 2004.

Politics
In recent decades, the length of proceedings of individual tribunals has increased, as has the concomitant cost. On the one hand, there is a tendency for those outraged by a new scandal to demand a Tribunal of Inquiry to investigate it. On the other hand, there is resentment of the increased cost of proceedings. The expenses of the legal counsel retained by witnesses are often paid in whole or part by the state. After the Beef Tribunal ended, a common joke was that its unprecedented length and cost ought to be investigated by another Tribunal.

Alternatives to a Tribunal of Inquiry include:
 * a non-statutory Parliamentary Inquiry, which is overseen by the Oireachtas but has lesser powers to compel witnesses to attend
 * a Commission of Investigation, often established as a preliminary step and later replaced by a more powerful Tribunal