Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

Mr. Patrick MacEntee, sole member of the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974, handed over his final report on 12 March 2007 and it was published on 4 April 2007. The total amount spent on the commission of investigation was €2,632,702. All costs in regard to the commission of investigation have been discharged.

I have not received any request for a meeting with Justice for the Forgotten. During my recent meeting with Prime Minister Brown, our discussions focused on the Northern Ireland investment conference and recent developments in Northern Ireland. The British Government is fully aware of the position of the Government and of all of the parties in the House with regard to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Pat Finucane case and the question of collusion generally. As Robin Eames and Denis Bradley reminded us last Thursday, the painful legacy of the past remains an enormous challenge to securing a shared, peaceful and prosperous future on this island. We all want to deal with this in a manner which allows all sections of the community to face the future with confidence. The best possible response to the tragedies of the past is to ensure they can never happen again.

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