As the Deputy is aware, this weekend, on 17 May, sees the fortieth anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. With 33 killed, that terrible day saw the highest number of casualties on any single day during the Troubles. It left a further 300 people injured. The Taoiseach and I have reiterated our support for the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and May 2011 urging the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original documents in their possession relating to the bombings. Last week I met with members of the families of those killed and injured in the bombings and in other bombings in this jurisdiction and with Justice for the Forgotten and confirmed the Government’s ongoing support for their campaign. At that meeting, I announced funding of €48,000 for Justice for the Forgotten, which now operates as a project of the Pat Finucane Centre, which will be disbursed through the Reconciliation Fund operated by my Department. I welcome the continued all-party support for their campaign on behalf of the Dublin/Monaghan families.
I have raised the matter of access to information related to the bombings with my Ministerial counterparts in the British Government, including directly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, to whom I wrote on this matter this week. I hope that the British Government will reflect afresh on the Government’s request. The Government will continue to pursue the issue at both ministerial and official level.
The Government continues to demonstrate solidarity with the Dublin-Monaghan bombings families. The Taoiseach and Minister of State Costello will participate in a memorial event which will take place on Talbot Street on 17 May. I will be represented at a wreath-laying ceremony in Monaghan town on 18th May by an official from my Department.
