Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

No. 10a is a motion regarding the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I welcome the fact that it has come before the House and will be approved. This is something that has been going on for a long time, since the original victims' commission was established in 1998 under the former Tánaiste, John Wilson. Mr. Justice Hamilton and later Mr. Justice Barron presided over the investigation. Much work has been done in both Houses of the Oireachtas on the matter and it is welcome that the motion is being transmitted to the House of Commons with a request for access to the relevant documents through a judicial figure. I am concerned, however, that the motion will be taken without debate. When we transmit the matter to the House of Commons its Members might ask how it came from the Dáil on the last sitting day without a debate but with the background information. While there has been all-party agreement on it, I do not think we can do anything about it at present but we should debate the issue in the autumn. I ask the Government Chief Whip and the Tánaiste if that can be agreed.

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