Fundraiser for Lawlor tribunal costs

Ms Justice Laffoy ruled this week that the Mahon tribunal cannot pursue Liam Lawlor’s estate for his debts. The costs, which total €430,000, seemed lost to the exchequer – until Taoiseach Brian Cowen called a hasty Cabinet meeting to discuss the best means of recouping the shortfall.

After some deliberation the Government decided to send four Ministers of State – Conor Lenihan, Pat Carey, Tony Killeen and Sean Haughey – on a fundraising walk in Nepal.

‘We hope not only to raise the €430,000 no longer owed by Liam,’ announced Mr Lenihan, ‘but to hit the €500,000 mark. The extra funds will be set aside for the coming revote on the Lisbon treaty.’

‘This money is badly needed,’ said Mr Cowen, laying special emphasis on the hoped for extra €70,000. ‘We were outspent by every party bar the Greens during the last referendum.

The Government team will walk around Nepal, which boasts eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, for two weeks in November, in return for which it will seek sponsorship from the public. Mr Cowen has urged all Cabinet Ministers to get knocking on doors now.