Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The answer to the first question is "Yes". As I stated to Deputy Kenny, I was in 10 Downing Street on the day of the motion. Admittedly it was before the debate, but I conveyed the motion and the reason behind it. Since then, I have conveyed it to the Secretary of State, Mr. Hain, who has written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, regarding this issue. The Minister will reply to it.

We secured a favourable position from the British Government regarding Bloody Sunday and many other issues. However, the response to this case is not in line with the strategy on which we worked for five years, starting with the Weston Park talks and followed by the great work performed by Judge Cory. Admittedly, there were delays in the process throughout this period. Then, in 2004 the British Government decided to change the law and move away from the 1921 Act, which delayed matters further. The form of the inquiry now proposed has been rejected as being inadequate by Judge Cory, the Finucane family, the Government, the Dáil and human rights groups, on the basic issue I have noted, namely, that the inquiry under the new law will not be regarded as being fully independent as we do not believe that the collusion issue will be properly addressed under this system.

There is no necessity for a separate summit. While Prime Minister Blair is probably fed up with listening to me raising this issue, I have an obligation to make him even more so. That is what I intend to do.

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