Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

This Government has made its case clearly and does not go cap in hand. People often said Irish Governments tipped the forelock to the British on issues such as Sellafield, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings or the Finucane murder. It was often said we never took a case against the Brits over Sellafield because of the special relationship between the two countries. This Government took such a case. We will continue to examine all avenues to make progress on the Finucane case. The Attorney General met legal advisers of the Finucane family some time ago to consider taking a case to the Council of Europe. We are still examining this but the possibility of taking a case is not advisable.

The Government will continue to meet the Finucane family, members of which recently attended hearings of the Sub-committee on Human Rights of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. Peter Hain has stated the British Government wishes to hold an inquiry under the Inquiries Act and it is seeking a building and a judge.

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