Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I welcome the motion before the House, which has the agreement of Members on all sides of the House. I also welcome the important points that are made in the motion, which states:

That Seanad Éireann:

- notes the report of the independent examination by Mr. Paul Coffey SC of the concerns of the Stardust Victims Committee in relation to the investigation of the cause of the fire disaster;

- acknowledges that the cause of the fire is unknown, the original finding of arson is a mere hypothetical explanation and is not demonstrated by any evidence and that none of the persons present on the night of the fire can be held responsible for it;

- accepts the view of Mr. Coffey that to establish a new tribunal to investigate the cause of the fire in the absence of any identified evidence would not be in the public interest;

- supports the Government in establishing a committee to monitor the counselling and medical needs of the survivors and bereaved; and

- expresses it continuing and deep sympathy with all of the victims and bereaved of the Stardust fire tragedy.

It is difficult to believe that it has taken 28 years for this motion to arrive on the floor of this House, having already been in the Dáil some months ago. Those intervening months must also have been hard on the families, the members of the committee and their solicitor. I want to welcome, in particular, the families, members of the committee and their solicitor, Mr. Greg O'Neill, here today and acknowledge the tremendous effort, fight and energy they have put into this campaign over such a long period. What better tribute is there to those 48 young people who did not come home than that effort which these people have put in over such a long period.

I want to echo what Senator Regan said. Politics is humbled by this. This is no victory for politics. This is a shame on politics because the resistance that these families met tells us a story about how victims have been dealt with in Ireland. I hope that now we have learned the lesson of listening to people who are directly involved in tragedies such as this. I hope we have learned the lessons of listening and acting because it is extraordinary that 28 years on we are talking about establishing a committee to monitor the counselling and medical needs of the survivors and bereaved. It is very late in the day to be establishing such a committee, but I welcome it and hope it will work effectively, efficiently and in the interests of the families in helping them with their ongoing emotional and physical needs.

A number of speakers talked about closure and in a sense this motion brings political closure to a degree to this terrible tragedy, which was so horrific that it is etched in all our minds. It was one of the worst tragedies ever in Ireland. For the families of those who died in such an horrific way and for those who were injured, I do not know that closure is the right word. It is about living with the consequences of this terrible tragedy, but by their work and efforts and by this motion before us today, I hope it brings some sense of having been understood and that the political system has finally responded to the points they have highlighted and the campaign they have run so effectively over such a long period.