Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015
23. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current situation regarding the Irish Government's request to its British counterparts, to release British files relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19336/15]
View answerThis is a repeat to my reply to Question No. 9 (19376.15). The 41st anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings took place two days ago on May 17th. The survivors of those terrible attacks, and the families of the victims, are now into the fifth decade of their search for answers. Commemorations took place last Saturday, 16th May, at which the Government was represented by Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Anniversaries can be a particularly difficult time, and the Dublin and Monaghan families are in my thoughts today as we discuss those dreadful events of 41 years ago.
I welcome the continued all-party support for the campaign on behalf of the Dublin-Monaghan families. On Friday last, 15th May, I met with the Justice for the Forgotten campaign, which supports victims and their families, including the Dublin and Monaghan families, to discuss how the Government can best support their efforts. In 2014, Justice for the Forgotten received a grant of €48,000 from my Department’s Reconciliation Fund to assist with its important work.
The Government fully supports 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 Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I have raised this issue with the British Government on a number of occasions and have received assurances from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the British Government would consider afresh how it can respond to the Dáil motions.
I had a constructive telephone conversation with the Secretary of State on the day of her re-appointment on our shared priorities and the challenges that lie ahead. We agreed to an early meeting for a more detailed discussion. I intend to raise this issue when I meet with Secretary of State Villiers later today and I can assure the House that I will be pressing for a detailed response to our long standing request.
