Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Taoiseach is on public record as is the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in deploring the lack of co-operation by the British authorities in the matter of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. We share that regret on this side of the House but it should be noted in passing that, for example, some of the documents being sought are of the highest sensitivity in terms of intelligence and security considerations. I raise the separate matter where civil litigation is taking place, arising from the single worst atrocity of the last almost 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. I refer to the case being taken by the Omagh families for civil compensation against persons suspected of involvement or being complicit in that atrocity. In this case, the co-operation of the Irish State is being sought by the families concerned and so far it is not forthcoming. The families have already suffered one setback in the courts here where a conviction was quashed because of the manner of handling of that case by some gardaí. Earlier this week, the Special Criminal Court felt it had to refuse to release the transcripts of certain trials. The Special Criminal Court felt it did not have jurisdiction to release these papers. These papers and proceedings are the verbatim account of what transpired in public court. The Northern Ireland courts have made clear that they want to evaluate what transpired for themselves and they are not prepared to make an order against the Irish authorities.

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