Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, who has said he does not intend to lead the Labour Party into the next general election. Critics and political correspondents have their own views as to when that might happen. Given the Prime Minister's responses in the House of Commons over the past 12 months about the necessity for the truth to be known, he should understand that the restriction in the amended Act inhibits this information from being made available. There is no point going ahead with a restricted inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane if the full truth cannot be made known.

I do not know whether the Taoiseach has discussed in private with the Prime Minister the revulsion that people feel when they ask why the British Government will not have a full-scale public inquiry under the original Act. I agree with the Taoiseach that it is difficult to move this issue on. If the Prime Minister wishes to leave behind a legacy of progress and reform, the best quality public service and the truth, can the Taoiseach enter his mindset to achieve some closure on this murder? Can he persuade the Prime Minister that if the inquiry proceeds as proposed, and the Finucane family does not become involved, it is a useless entity and restricted findings will not bring closure or truth? Will the Taoiseach give the Prime Minister a copy of the unanimous motion from this House, which I was glad to see people supported, and express to him on behalf of the entire Parliament, the representatives of the people, how important we feel it is that this matter be finalised in an open and fully accountable fashion? In so far as Mr. Blair wants his legacy to be judged, it would be in his own interests to be a prime minister who saw to it that a restriction in the amended Act would be lifted, or that the inquiry should be held under the original Act. That would be a great day's work for politics, for both governments and in terms of finding out the truth for the Finucane family.

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