Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The issue of the transfer of the documents has not been brought to my attention within the Administration. There was no question of the Government being asked for these papers or of my involvement in these issues. It is totally a matter for the courts but I understand the point the Deputy is making that they cannot deal with this issue but if they had these papers they could be of assistance to them. The only way I could look at that issue would be to take legal advice. To date and in the process of the case no request has been made to me even though I deal regularly with the families and the different groups related to Omagh. In this case no request has been made and we would have to take legal advice on whether those papers can be made available, or made available in the way the Deputy has stated by putting them into the archives early, under section 8 of the 1975 Act. I have not discussed this issue with the Attorney General. Given that the Deputy has raised the issue I will check the legal position.

See this speech in context