Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will visit Northern Ireland on Thursday, as I do regularly. I have a number of engagements which have been arranged for some time. I will be in Coleraine University, Derry and Belfast to discuss the Belfast partnership and a number of other issues. One of the engagements I have is in Omagh.

The Nally report was to be debated by the House last Friday so had that gone ahead it would have been completed before my visit. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, on previous occasions, made the committee aware of the issues in so far as he has been able to do so. Over the years I have met many of the people connected with Omagh. I have been involved in many of their fundraising efforts and have kept in touch with them. I will participate in a reception by the leaders of the civic society and councils in Omagh.

When talking about international visits abroad in the context of the EU, I do not include Northern Ireland, or perhaps I included the fact that I would be in Northern Ireland a number of times between now and the summer.

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