Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I stated, any organisations or groups that have been involved in this issue to date have been deriving funding for their activities from the Remembrance Commission fund, which expired on 31 October. It is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to consider any applications for further funding thereafter.

On the Justice for the Forgotten group, there was a response by Government and co-operation by other Members of the House. There have been commissions of inquiry into these matters. Some €2.6 million has been expended in the case of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, as mentioned in reply to the Deputy's parliamentary question. No question arises over resources not being made available to deal with the substantive issue. They have been provided and the work has been brought as far as possible. Mr. MacEntee's findings on shortcomings and omissions were a matter of serious concern although it would be acknowledged that he noted considerable improvements in administrative practice since he first examined the issue. A full review carried out of all systems and procedures in the relevant Departments and agencies will ensure the failures found by Mr. MacEntee do not occur in the future. Legal issues associated with another aspect of this matter have been dealt with in other parliamentary questions.

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