Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

With regard to the Omagh bombing, new evidence has emerged which suggests the electronic intelligence agency in Britain, the GCHQ, monitored exchanges between the bombers on the day in question. It is also believed that at a meeting of the Home Office a year later chaired by the head of MI5, there may well have been discussion of the early use of intercepted calls to prosecute the persons involved which may well have prevented that bombing.

A recent programme the Taoiseach will be aware of in the "Panorama" series brought this new evidence to light. It also stated the biggest complication facing the Criminal Investigation Department, or CID, in what was then the RUC was that although the bombing was committed in its jurisdiction, some 80% of the suspects lived in the Irish Republic, thus falling under the jurisdiction of An Garda Síochána. Despite assurances from both Governments that the police forces were co-operating, there were in reality two separate and parallel inquiries. As the Taoiseach is aware, the British Prime Minister has ordered a review of the intercepted intelligence material.

Arising from this, has the Taoiseach been in touch with the British authorities about this new information? Does he agree with the report that there were weaknesses in the investigation and are there any changes consequential to this meaning a renewed co-operation on the investigation might come about? I say this against the background of the possibility that the tragedy of Omagh and the loss of life felt so deeply by the entire community, particularly the families involved, may not have occurred if the intercepted calls had been acted upon.

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