Mr Justice Moriarty yesterday warned certain witnesses and their lawyers that he would take "appropriate steps" against them unless they co-operated properly with the tribunal.
His comments followed the withdrawal of an unnamed witness from yesterday's public sitting after giving last-minute notification of his non-attendance.
Counsel for the tribunal, Mr John Coughlan SC, said the action had severely curtailed yesterday's sitting, causing the tribunal to adjourn earlier than expected.
He said the tribunal's legal team was under the impression the witness would be available all this week, but was told only on Monday evening this was not the case.
Unfortunately, said Mr Coughlan, the witness would have to give evidence later in the week.
Mr Justice Moriarty said it seemed "unacceptable that some persons are not affording the requisite degree of co-operation with this tribunal. Those persons or practitioners, few though they are, who may have contributed to making the workings of the public sittings more difficult can scarcely complain if I take these matters very fully into consideration at any such eventual time as I may be asked to make cost provisions out of public funds."
