Mr. Chairman, just before Mr - The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain ...

3811:59:021 letter received by fax from Mr. Lawlor signed by his secretary today a fax2 apparently at 10.04 received to the Tribunal at 11.15 and it reads :34 "Dear Ms. Gilvarry, I refer to your fax of yesterday evening, unfortunately I11:59:215 have entered into commitments to travel to Prague which I had to previously6 cancel and am not in a position to make further cancellation, therefore I am7 not available on Thursday the 8th of April 2004 to attend at the Tribunal".89 I understand from Mr. Dillon, she had spoken with Mr. Lawlor before the11:59:3810 Tribunal sat, and he did not indicate to her at that stage that he had made11 travel arrangements.1213 MR. LAWLOR: Ms. Dillon told me she sent out a letter at half four I checked it14 came in the at half five on the fax. I was asked to respond, I responded and11:59:5715 that's my position. An hour of a drift between Ms. Dillon's suggestion to me16 and the receipt of the fax.1718 CHAIRMAN: But Mr. Lawlor when you spoke to Ms. Dillon this morning surely you19 knew you were going to Prague tomorrow.12:00:062021 MR. LAWLOR: Of course, yes. But I said I would reflect on it. She said you22 have a letter at your office, and would you respond to it. I said I would23 check with the office and respond to it. And I rang my office and asked them24 to read out the letter and when the letter was read out to me. I dictated a12:00:2125 response. And that's what the position. And I am not deviating from it.2627 CHAIRMAN: But could you have informed us at half ten this morning. I offered28 you an opportunity to make your submission tomorrow and you said you wanted to29 consider it. Presumably you knew at that stage that you wouldn't be here12:00:4030 tomorrow.Premier Captioning & Realtime Limitedwww.pcr.ie Day 474