I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together.
The Dublin and Monagahan bombings, which took place on 17 May 1974, the 25th anniversary of which is next Monday, were among the most appalling outrages in the history of this island. As a result, 33 people were killed and 240 were injured. A great many more lives, namely those of the victims' friends and relatives, were scarred forever.
I met the Justice for the Forgotten Group – the Dublin and Monaghan relatives' committee – with their legal representatives on Thursday, 22 April 1999. It is clear the group, as its name implies, feels it has not been listened to and that its members' concerns have not been addressed over the years. At our meeting, members raised a number of issues with me, including the investigation that was carried out after the bombings. They indicated that new evidence had come to light and undertook to establish a sub-committee to assemble the evidence and present the case for an inquiry.
I gave my commitment to form an interdepartmental group to work with the committee in an exercise broadly similar to that carried out in the Irish Government's assessment of the evidence relating to Bloody Sunday. The recommendations of the victims' commissioner, former Tánaiste, John Wilson, would also have to be taken into account as the Government had put the Dublin and Monaghan bombings into his remit. I also said a tribunal of inquiry would not be ruled out, if an argument for having one could be constructed.
Finally, I am advised that the Garda authorities are pursuing fresh inquiries in the case as a result of information which has been provided to them in the past few weeks. As this is an active criminal investigation, particularly in view of the receipt of this information, it will naturally be essential to ensure its effectiveness is not in any way compromised by other inquiries which may be undertaken.