Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the first question, we all await the deliberations of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is good that he is taking this initiative. The submissions are now in and we just have to await the process and what will be decided. Obviously there are large legal issues around these questions, the issue of privilege and others, but at least we are into a process, the outcome of which we await.

I was asked a large number of questions by the Omagh families, including Mr. Gallagher, who have fought a very intense case on this issue for a number of years. I have asked all the different arms of the State to co-operate with them. I confess there is reluctance in some areas because of all kinds of complexities and legal issues as to how things can be given, but I do not propose to go into all of those. I have asked everyone to co-operate as fully as possible to assist them. We know they are not totally happy in regard to those issues, but at least I have tried, as best I can, to give them all the information and to explain the process to get into if we cannot give them the information directly. Obviously this is very important for them because it is very difficult, ten years on from Omagh, for the families to get a process whereby somebody can be brought to justice and, in many cases, even if people are not brought to justice, that they can see that the matter is fully dealt with. I have answered their correspondence and I have asked people across the system, in so far as they can, to explain to them the process through which they can the maximum information.

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