Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015
518. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the examination into the new evidence recently provided by the Stardust Victims Committee will be completed; if she will provide an update by her Department on the investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20524/15]
View answerFollowing a meeting with the Stardust Victims Committee last year, I appointed an official in my Department to liaise with the Committee and they have engaged with representatives of the Committee in relation to these matters.
A researcher associated with the Committee has submitted material relating to these events to my Department and a meeting was held with that Researcher, and another person associated with the Committee, on 23 April. The material previously submitted and the matters raised at that meeting are being examined. The Committee has been informed that they will be contacted when this examination is completed.
I appreciate that the Committee are extremely anxious for this process to be completed, however, given the volume and complexity of the material to be examined it is important that an appropriate amount of time is afforded to its consideration. For that reason, other than to say the matter will be progressed expeditiously, I do not wish, at this time, to give a firm commitment as to a completion date where I cannot guarantee that it will be met.
I wish also to inform the Deputy that allegations raised by the Stardust Relatives' and Victims Committee and their representatives in relation to certain matters are the subject of an ongoing investigation by An Garda Síochána. I am informed, by the Garda Commissioner, that this is a complex investigation and, you will understand, I cannot do anything that might cut across this investigation.
