THE MORIARTY tribunal is to sit on Friday, possibly to hear its last witness. The tribunal is to hear further evidence from businessman Massimo Prelz, who began giving evidence in July.
Mr Prelz was called at the request of businessman Denis O'Brien after the tribunal issued its provisional findings late last year.
He is giving evidence about the status of financial support venture capital firm Advent International had promised to Mr O'Brien's Esat Digifone at the time it was competing for the State's second mobile phone licence.
The consortium founded by Mr O'Brien won the licence competition and was in time awarded the licence.
The tribunal is to rule on the competition and the issuing of the licence and, in particular, on whether there was any interference in the process by the then minister for transport, energy and communications, Michael Lowry.
The tribunal will also make findings based on evidence heard as to whether Mr Lowry received any financial benefits from Mr O'Brien.
The chairman of the tribunal, Mr Justice Michael Moriarty, may say at the outset of Friday's hearing whether Mr Prelz is the last witness or whether someone else may be called.
Some of those affected by the tribunal's findings are facilitated, as part of their response to the provisional findings, by having witnesses called.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said in the Dáil two weeks ago that he had been informed that the tribunal report would be published in January.
Some sources with knowledge of the tribunal's workings have expressed doubt about this.
The tribunal was first established in 1997. The chairman has on earlier occasions indicated that he believed its work was nearing its end, only to see time pass and the report not issue.
Mr O'Brien has already revealed some of the tribunal's provisional findings. The tribunal has found against him on a range of matters, he has said.
He also said he would fight the findings "street by street".
