Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013
44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with members of the British Government in relation to the need for an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51946/13]
View answerOver 3,500 people died during the Troubles. The suffering of their relatives and friends endures to this day. There is no hierarchy of loss or grief for these families. However, both Governments accepted at Weston Park that certain cases from the past remained a source of grave public concern, particularly those giving rise to serious allegations of collusion by the security forces in each of our jurisdictions. Both Governments therefore committed to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion in the cases, of the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Pat Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright. The Government's position continues to be to fulfil the commitments we entered into at Weston Park, most specifically in this jurisdiction to carry out an inquiry into the murders of Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan. In line with this approach, we continue to call on the British Government for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. This is an approach which has cross-party support in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
It is clear from my extensive consultations during recent visits to Northern Ireland that the past is having a corrosive effect on political life and on community relations. The current All-Party talks under the chairmanship of Richard Haass present an opportunity currently to build positive momentum towards finding the right mechanisms to deal with the past. In the longer term, dealing with the Past will require the ongoing commitment of both Governments, of all the Parties in Ireland, North and South, and also the support of wider society.
