Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has asked a number of questions. We had a meeting at which all the points raised by the Deputy Ó Caoláin were included in a submission presented to me by the family. They give me an oral presentation of the facts and they have also been communicating with my officials. We have taken their submission in its entirety, which includes all the points the Deputy raised, and I have written to the Tánaiste and his officials, who were also at that meeting with me, asking that they further examine all the concerns of the Fullerton family. I have also asked the Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to seek to ensure the maximum level of cross-Border co-operation is given, which the family asked me to do, to assist in the ongoing investigation into this case.

The Garda is carrying out a full review of the case, which is still ongoing. I fed into that review the points made by the family. I understand from the Tánaiste that the Garda review is nearly completed. The Garda will obviously take into account what I have said recently. This is an extensive review led by a chief superintendent. More than 120 interviews of witnesses took place and all the papers, documents and what has been said by everybody concerned over a long period have been taken into account.

For the sake of completeness, the family has a number of concerns about the review process. I passed on their views on that in a forthright manner. It would be a pity if the work was done and it did not give them satisfaction. I have dutifully passed on the family's points to the Garda, and asked it to take account of them because, as the Deputy said, the family are decent and respectful people.

I am advised that one main item outstanding is a request for mutual assistance from the PSNI. I understand there has been contacts between the Garda and the Historical Enquiries Team, the HET. I have asked to be kept up to date on developments, and the Tánaiste will do likewise.

For the information of the House, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Nuala O'Loan, has announced she will investigate Eddie Fullerton's murder. Any assistance the authorities in this State can offer that inquiry should also be given. Between the two sets of work we have achieved what the Deputy set out. We will have to see where that goes and how much co-operation we will get, but I will keep the matter under review.

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