Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
307. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representatives of the UK Government he has engaged with following the decision of that government not to proceed with a public enquiry into the murder of a person (details supplied); the outcome of these engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41694/20]
View answerThe Government has consistently supported the establishment of a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, as provided for under the Weston Park Agreement reached by the UK and Irish Governments in 2001.
I spoke with the Secretary of State on Monday 30 November and conveyed the Irish Government’s disappointment with his decision not to hold a public inquiry into the Finucane case at this time, and underlined the position that a public inquiry remains the way forward. The Taoiseach has also made a statement in support of the Finucane family.
During a discussion of the McKerr group of cases at the European Council Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg on Tuesday 1 December, Ireland made a national statement which reaffirmed the Government position that only a full and independent public inquiry will provide a satisfactory resolution to the case of Pat Finucane. The Committee subsequently adopted an Interim Resolution in relation to a number of Northern Ireland legacy cases, including the case of Pat Finucane, on 3 December, and the case will be examined again in March.
The Government will continue to engage with the Finucane family, with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and with the UK Government t to work towards a satisfactory resolution.
So many families lost loved ones during the Troubles and are entitled to support in finding truth and justice, as part of healing the wounds of that conflict and building reconciliation. We agreed a comprehensive framework for achieving that at Stormont House in 2014 and it is vital that such a framework is implemented urgently, for all families and for society as a whole.
