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Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 March 2018

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Ceisteanna (52, 102)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

52. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on discussions he has had since becoming Minister with his UK counterparts regarding legacy issues, particularly regarding the Dublin and Monaghan documents and the failure of the UK Government to release files, and his plans to address the matter at future meetings in 2018. [14049/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

102. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the ongoing outstanding requests with the British Government regarding inquiries into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11046/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (7 píosaí cainte)

Will the Minister report on discussions he has had since becoming Minister with his UK counterparts regarding legacy issues, particularly those relating to the Dublin and Monaghan documents and the failure of the UK Government to release files and how this can be addressed at future meetings in 2018?

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 102 together.

Dealing with long outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the Government. The programme for Government highlights this priority with specific reference to implementation of the all-party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.

I acknowledge also those across the House who work on a cross-party basis with the Government on this issue and the tireless efforts of Justice for the Forgotten. I will be meeting with Justice for the Forgotten in the coming weeks to hear its views and update it on the Government's continuing engagement on legacy issues, including with the British Government on the Dáil motions.

The all-party motion on the 1974 Dublin-Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016 has, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, been conveyed to the British Government. These motions call on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the bombing of Kay’s Tavern in Dundalk and the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The Government is committed to actively pursuing the implementation of these all-party motions and has consistently raised the issue with the British Government.

I am actively engaged with the British Government on an ongoing basis on this issue, as are officials from my Department. I discussed the matter on a number of occasions with the former Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, and I will continue to pursue the issue directly with his successor, Karen Bradley.

As part of this engagement, the Government underlines that the Dáil motions represent the consensus political view in Ireland that an independent, international judicial review of all the relevant documents is required to establish the full facts of the Dublin-Monaghan atrocities. I have also advised that the absence of a response from the British Government is of deep concern to the Government and indeed this House and I have emphasised the urgent need for such a response. The Government will continue to engage with the British Government on the request relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and pursue all possible avenues that could achieve progress on this issue consistent with the request made by this House.

On the broader legacy issues, we are putting together legislation that can allow for hearings to be heard for inquests in Northern Ireland relating to some of the other legacy cases and hearings that will be taking place in order that we can essentially have a cross-jurisdictional hearing system in the High Court in Dublin to ensure that Ireland does everything it can to make sure that any information linked to legacy cases can be accessed and fully heard and understood in the context of hearings.

I cannot but be struck by the irony there. We expel a Russian diplomat. Leaving aside the threat to our neutrality, I will go back to the Minister's words. He said that Ireland had a choice to either show active solidarity with our closest neighbour or sit on our hands and do nothing. That is what British Governments have been doing for almost 44 years. They have sat on their hands and done absolutely nothing on this issue. There is no indication that the British Government will reciprocate the solidarity the Minister is anxious to show regarding that other situation. The language of the Minister's reply is the same language I have been getting from other Ministers. It is all very nice. The Government is going to actively pursue the matter, it is a major priority, there is a commitment in the programme for Government, the urgent need, deep concern, etc. but nothing has happened. It is almost as if it is a case of wearing down the relatives and Justice for the Forgotten so they will give up and go away but they are not going to give up and go away. The British Government has shown absolute contempt for the three motions that have been passed here.

I concur with Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan regarding speaking out of both sides of our mouths regarding how we treated the recent Russian episode and how the people of Ireland have been treated by the British authorities. It is 44 years since the atrocity when 33 people were killed, including an unborn child. These families continue to suffer. They are stopped at every avenue when it comes to getting to the truth. These families need truth, honesty and, most of all, transparency if they are to begin, and only begin, the healing process regarding the atrocity and tragedies they suffered. I must concur with the Deputy and ask that the Minister does everything in his power to get these families the answers they deserve. Margaret Irwin is one of the people who is very much to the fore in Justice for the Forgotten. It feels as though these people are being led a merry dance, are being led round and round in circles and are still not getting the answers they deserve.

In respect of the issues raised by the two Deputies, I take umbrage at times when reference is made to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings despite their importance. I was glad to hear the Minister reference the Kay's Tavern bombing and the case of Seamus Ludlow because the Dundalk bombing had an impact as well.

Quite a number of the people we are meeting in respect of legacy issues through the Good Friday Agreement just want closure as opposed to individuals coming to trial. How far advanced are we in achieving a similar arrangement to that relating to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in respect of facilitating people who were not prosecuted to give evidence in order to allow closure for families that are really distressed? All they want is the truth of the situation. They are not necessarily looking for redress at this stage.

The Tánaiste quite rightly referred to the three motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann calling on the British Government to give an international eminent legal person access to the papers and files pertaining to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The Tánaiste also referenced the work of the cross-party group. His predecessor as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, had an arrangement to regularly update Deputies Crowe and Maureen O'Sullivan and me, as representatives of the cross-party group, on the ongoing talks with the British Government and the Secretary of State. Perhaps it would be possible to reconstitute that arrangement.

I share the frustrations that have just been outlined. I am happy to reconstitute the cross-party group. I spent some time with victims of atrocities and their quest for the truth is powerful. Hopefully, we will soon see an opening of a public consultation process in respect of the introduction of new legislation consistent with the Stormont House Agreement in terms of legacy structures, inquests and the funding required to see that through. It is in that context that we will continue to pursue the reasonable requests of the families concerned and those advocating on their behalf. It is suggested that some may think the families will give up and go away. I do not believe they will. I assure the Deputies that the requests coming from the Irish Government in respect of this issue are not going to go away either.

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