Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
123. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his British counterpart about the public inquiry into the murder of a person (details supplied) following the UK Supreme Court ruling on 27 February 2019. [10596/19]
View answerThe Government has noted the judgment of the UK Supreme Court in the Finucane case on 27 February, including the finding that an investigation compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights has not been held into the murder of Pat Finucane.
The Taoiseach confirmed to the Dáil on 27 February that the Government’s position remains that an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane should be established, in line with the political commitments made by the British and Irish Governments at Weston Park in 2001. The Government has made this position consistently clear to the British Government, and will continue to do so.
I met with the UK Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington MP on 28 February and with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley MP on 5 March and as part of both discussions, I raised the UK Supreme Court judgment and the Government's position that an independent public inquiry is required in the Finucane case.
On 13 March, Ireland made a statement at the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers which confirmed the Government’s position that a public inquiry is required in the Finucane case and our continued support for the reopening of individual measures in the case, in accordance with the request made by the applicant. A Decision of the Committee of Ministers on 13 March sought the response of the UK authorities to the UK Supreme Court judgment by 21 June.
The Taoiseach and I have met with members of the Finucane family in recent months to confirm the Government’s continuing support for a public inquiry, and the Government remains in ongoing contact with the family, as they await a response from the British Government to the UK Supreme Court judgment and finding that there has not been an Article 2 compliant investigation into the Pat Finucane’s killing.
The efforts of the Finucane family, pursued with courage, dignity and resilience, are replicated in different ways by many other families across all sections of the community, North and South, East and West, who continue to seek truth and justice following the loss of their loved ones in the dark years of the Troubles.
The Government will continue to engage with the British Government to seek progress with outstanding commitments and issues, to comprehensively address the legacy of the past and meet the needs and expectations of victims and survivors.
