Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

We very much welcome the motion. I wholeheartedly concur with everything that has been said so far by the Minister of State and other speakers. We are very grateful to members of the Stardust victims' committee. We commend and thank them and their solicitor, Greg O'Neill, for all their work and efforts over a long period. While it is a pity it was delayed for so long, this was a very important independent examination that clears the air. As has been acknowledged, Mr. Paul Coffey SC has done the families and the State a great service with his work.

This was a matter for the Oireachtas, which obviously established the Keane tribunal. Obviously there was a delay in placing this acknowledgement on the record of the Dáil and Seanad. This is an acknowledgment that there was no evidence whatsoever that the fire was started deliberately and that its cause is unknown. As has been said and I will not be repetitive, the tribunal's report found that the original finding was purely hypothetical. I will hand over to Senator Fitzgerald who will expand further on this.