Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It has been raised at a political level by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, who is dealing with these matters on ongoing basis. We have been supportive of trying to find an investigative mechanism that is required for the Pat Finucane issue. I met the family on a number of occasions. I am mindful of the fact that the Eames-Bradley group provides us with an opportunity to examine the past in a way that will help us all to have a greater understanding for the future and to find some means by which matters can be closed and resolved. These matters are ongoing and have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the Government or the Dáil. In many respects, trying to retrace events that far back leads us to not getting to the full truth we want to get to and would like to get to. We continue to see how we can assist those families who seek to obtain the truth in these issues.

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