Vol. 519 No. 1
6 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any member of his Department's staff is liaising with, monitoring the work of, or attending the public hearings of the Saville inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9395/00]
The Government welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister Mr. Blair on 29 January 1998, of the establishment of a new, independent, judicial tribunal of inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday. The objective of the Bloody Sunday inquiry is to find out what happened in Derry on 30 January 1972. The tribunal began its public oral hearings in the Guildhall in Derry on 27 March last and this marked an important step forward in the task of fully and finally establishing the truth about that tragic day.
The Government has maintained close and regular contact with the Bloody Sunday relatives and injured, their legal representatives and members of the Bloody Sunday Trust in the past and we will continue to do so during this substantive phase of the tribunal's work.
We attach great importance to the progress and outcome of the inquiry. In this context, officials of my Department have monitored the work of the tribunal since its inception. Furthermore, an officer has been specifically assigned to monitor the inquiry's public oral hearings and has been attending these hearings since their commencement as the Government's official observer. It is intended to maintain this presence throughout the course of the inquiry's public hearings, which are expected to continue for two years.
Will the Minister of State confirm that the representative to whom she referred is present at each of the public hearings?
So far as I am aware, the official representing the Irish Government has attended all hearings.
Will the Minister of State inform the House if the briefings she is receiving from that official indicates we can have confidence in the fairness and appropriateness of the deliberations of the tribunal?
The tribunal is still at an opening stage. Counsel for the tribunal is outlining its opening presentation, therefore it is at a very early stage. Having requested the establishment of the tribunal we would, of course, respect the independence of the Saville Tribunal. While we wish Lord Saville and his team well in their difficult task, counsel for the tribunal is currently making his opening statement during which he will set out the documentary and other material which has become available to the tribunal. This presentation does not express the views of the tribunal but does identify certain questions and issues which may need to be addressed. The tribunal will not express a view until the presentation of evidence has been concluded. We are monitoring very carefully the ongoing developments at the tribunal and, having called for its establishment, take a very close interest in its ongoing developments.
Arising from the Minister of State's reply, will the Government be making a submission to the tribunal or does it intend to be represented by counsel at any part of the tribunal?
At the moment a designated officer of the Department is representing the Government as a full-time observer at the public oral hearings. At present the Government does not envisage being legally represented.
Or making a submission?
I am not aware if the Government is making a submission.
That is a separate question. The question relates to attendance at the inquiry.
We will wait to see how matters develop.
