Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together.

On 29 November, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights published its final report into the bombing of Kay's Tavern in Dundalk in 1975. This is the last of Mr. Justice Barron's reports to be considered by the committee. The findings in this report are deeply troubling and a matter of most serious concern. They paint a very disturbing picture. I fully support the call for a full debate in the Dáil and the Seanad on collusion.

I have agreed to a request to meet with the relatives of the victims of the Dundalk bombing in the new year. This will be preceded by a meeting to be held before Christmas with my officials.

In accordance with the recommendations of the first report of the Oireachtas joint committee, Mr. Patrick MacEntee was appointed as sole member of a commission of investigation to examine specific matters relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, including aspects of the Garda investigation and missing documentation. The appointment was made on 26 April 2005.

Last week, Mr. MacEntee provided me with a further interim report and requested a further extension to the timeframe to 14 February 2007. I have brought this seventh interim report to the attention of the Government and, as with previous such reports, I have published it. It is clear from this latest interim report that Mr. MacEntee has completed his investigations and that this further period is required to deal with the final arrangements which the commission is obliged to comply with prior to reporting under the Commissions of Investigation Act.

The interim report indicates that further evidence or other material has also been received during the reporting phase, thereby causing a delay in completion of the report. On the basis that he has uncovered further information, and in light of the need to deal with the remaining issues in an appropriate manner, I have granted Mr. MacEntee a further extension. I acknowledge that waiting a further period before Mr. MacEntee's final report is available is difficult for the victims and survivors. Nonetheless, it is clear that Mr. MacEntee must be allowed sufficient time to complete his work.

I established the inquiries by the late Mr. Justice Hamilton, Mr. Justice Barron and, most recently, Mr. MacEntee precisely because of the long-standing suspicions concerning collusion in the 1970s. We have now had all four reports of the Oireachtas joint committee, following in turn on the four reports by Mr. Justice Barron. We will also have the report from Mr. MacEntee in February. I commend all of the work that has been done to date in these investigations.

I again raised the issue of collusion with Prime Minister Blair when I met him on 4 December in London. I have made it clear that I want the British Government to examine the findings of all of these reports, as well as the forthcoming MacEntee report. I appreciate there are many issues on all sides arising from the past but I have consistently emphasised, and I believe Prime Minister Blair understands, the very deep anxiety and widespread concerns arising from these reports and the need for the British Government to play its part in addressing these concerns. It is in everyone's interests to try to secure closure now with clarity in respect of these dark and troubling cases.

I met with the families of the victims and the survivors of the Miami Showband massacre on 30 November. The story of the Miami Showband massacre, which happened on 30 July 1975, brought the terrible reality of the Troubles home to so many people.

I expressed my sympathy to the families for the loss of their loved ones and for the terrible ordeal they endured 31 years ago. I listened carefully as the families described the horrific night of the massacre, when the three members of the band lost their lives, and explained how the events have affected them since then. The families raised a number of specific questions with me regarding the massacre, which I have undertaken to follow up.

I met with the family of Eddie Fullerton, the late Sinn Féin councillor from County Donegal, in Government Buildings on 16 November. As the House will be aware, Councillor Fullerton was murdered in his home in May 1991. During the meeting, I expressed my sympathy to the family for their loss.

I have since asked the Tánaiste and his officials to further examine the concerns of the Fullerton family. I have also asked both the Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to seek to ensure the maximum level of cross-Border co-operation required to assist the ongoing investigations into the case, both North and South.

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