Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I want to concentrate my questions on that area of peace and reconciliation. Deputy Adams is leading a Sinn Féin delegation in London today meeting the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, and the Opposition Labour leader. There is a difference in what has happened in Britain and Ireland. The Irish Government would be constantly involved in meeting all parties and none regarding the peace process. The fact that it is four years and this is the first official meeting with Sinn Féin reflects the work the British Government has been involved in.

The ambassador spoke about the queen and some of her statements. She has been very much involved in reconciliation work and many of her statements have been seen as helpful to peace and reconciliation between our two islands. There is not the same sort of impact from the British Government. I know part of the ambassador's role is to be a listening post. Is part of that that the British Government sees the peace process almost as a done deal so it feels it does not need to be as heavily involved as previous administrations or is it more to do with difficulties within the British Conservative Party looking down the road at possible elections?

Many people and not just those in Sinn Féin are concerned about its inactivity. We had the Haass talks with no agreement on a number of the issues. The Irish Government has come out on those talks and the way to resolve it, as have the SDLP, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party. However, the British Government and the Unionist parties have not adopted a position in that regard. Does the ambassador get a sense that the British Government has disengaged or is that a misconception on my behalf? Does he believe it could be doing more on peace and reconciliation work in Ireland?

I will give one example. May of this year saw the 40th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Tremendous hurt was felt by those families over the largest number of people killed in the conflict. There has been a demand from this House for files to be released. Does the ambassador get any sense that the British Government will at some stage release those files? We do not see such initiatives coming from that Government. I hope after today's meeting much more vigour and energy will be put into the process. Is the ambassador concerned about the British Government's lack of strategic involvement in that process?