Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach not agree that all the information now before us is compelling and, as the families of the victims and the survivors have called for time and again, that a fully independent all-Ireland public inquiry into the events that led up to the bombing and the subsequent investigation should be carried out? Does the Taoiseach accept that the body of evidence supporting such a call must include the exposure in the BBC "Panorama" programme, to which he referred, of the role of the UK Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ, surveillance operation on mobile telephones used by the individuals involved in the transportation of that device or devices on that day? Does the Taoiseach accept that there are clear and strong indications that the people responsible were heavily infiltrated by British and other intelligence agencies? Does he accept that there is a question mark regarding the failure to make an intervention prior to the bombing, and the quality of the investigation that occurred subsequently?

Questions have been posed by victims, survivors and others, covering all opinion, regarding whether there were other factors in the consideration of those given responsibility to investigate the Omagh bombing, for example, the protection of information trails and informers within the ranks of those involved in carrying out that terrible atrocity on that day. These matters can only be properly investigated and answered through the setting in place of a fully independent public inquiry on an all-Ireland basis, for which the families concerned have called, because of all the information shown. Does the Taoiseach accept that this is the case and will he agree to the request in the interest of the achievement of truth and justice for the dead, the survivors and the victims' families?

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