Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 10, inclusive, together.

Mr. Justice Barron's first two reports were published, examined and reported on by the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. The first report dealt with the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974. The second report dealt with bombings in Dublin in 1972 and 1973 and events elsewhere in the country prior to 1974.

Mr. Justice Barron's third report relates specifically to the murder of Seamus Ludlow and it was presented to the Government last year. The Government wishes that the report should be published in the form it was received from Mr. Justice Barron. In that context, certain aspects of the report have required careful consideration and were the subject of lengthy legal advice, including on the protection of the rights of persons named in the report. The Government has concluded its consideration of this matter. Officials from my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are preparing the report for presentation to the House. A motion to refer the report to the joint committee will be put to the House next week at the latest.

Mr. Justice Barron is finalising his fourth and final report. This report will deal with the Dundalk bombings of 1975 and certain other events elsewhere in the country around the same time. We can expect to receive this report in the coming weeks. It will then follow the same course as the other reports, namely consideration by the Government and by the joint committee. As of the end of September 2005, the total cost of the Barron inquiry was €2.29 million. This does not include grants paid directly to Justice for the Forgotten.

With regard to actions taken on foot of Mr. Justice Barron's report into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Government has closely followed the approach recommended by the joint committee. It was recommended that a judge should be appointed in the first instance to conduct an investigation along Weston Park lines. We have been pressing the British Government consistently for action on this point. I indicated to Prime Minister Blair at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 27 June that, in the absence of progress, I would seek preliminary legal advice on the possibility of taking a case in the European Court of Human Rights. I have written to the Attorney General seeking preliminary advice on the matter and there have been a number of contacts between my Department and the Attorney General's office since then. Expert legal opinion has been provided and is currently under consideration by the Attorney General's office. I therefore expect to receive his preliminary legal advice shortly. Contacts with the British Government aimed at securing further co-operation are also ongoing. I raised this issue with Prime Minster Blair again when I met with him on 11 October. Our actions in this regard will of course be informed by the legal advice we receive.

The other main action taken on foot of Mr. Justice Barron's work has been the establishment of the commission of investigation. The commission is examining certain aspects of the investigation in this jurisdiction of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974, arising from findings made by Mr. Justice Barron. When the commission was established, with Mr. Patrick MacEntee SC as its sole member, it was asked to complete its work within six months, which would be mid-November. However, the work of the commission is dependent on co-operation from other people.

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