Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As an aside to this question, I suggest the House should congratulate Senator George Mitchell on his appointment as special envoy to the Middle East. His experience in Northern Ireland, his brilliant patience and his grasp of detail will stand him in good stead in what is an exceptionally difficult situation. I hope he takes the opportunity to visit Ireland on his frequent travels across the Atlantic when dealing with his new responsibility.

As we are all aware, ten years ago the Real IRA bomb killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. I understand six families have taken a STG£14 million civil case against five men they believe were responsible for this atrocity. Lord Brennan, who represents these families, has said this is the first time that civilians have confronted terrorists in the courts, which from the families' point of view, as private citizens, is an act of courage.

Did the Taoiseach raise with the British authorities the issue of the release of surveillance evidence to the families? As I understand it, the surveillance evidence that is available to the British authorities could be used by the families in the civil case they are taking against those they believe perpetrated this atrocity. If the Taoiseach did raise the matter with the British authorities, what sort of response did they give him? This evidence and these tapes were raised by at least a dozen cross-Border members of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body in October 2008. Will the Taoiseach give an update on what has happened and the current position in this regard? The Real IRA was responsible for that bomb. Does the Taoiseach have a view on the actions of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who made representations about Mr. McKevitt following receipt of a letter? He said that he was duty bound to have compassion and empathy. The same Minister did not show compassion and empathy to the families of the Omagh bomb victims when he refused to apologise to them for the distress caused by his action. Does the Taoiseach have a view on this matter?

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