Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 14, inclusive, together.

The Dáil debate on 17 May on a motion on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, which was agreed by all parties in the House, requests this Government to continue in its endeavour to seek a resolution to this issue. The Government is committed to doing so.

As the House will be aware, I raised this matter during my broad discussion with the British Prime Minister in April and again when I met with him on the occasion of the State visit of Queen Elizabeth II. We both acknowledge that there are a great number of sensitive issues relating to the past, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, that need to be sensitively considered, without getting into endless, open-ended inquiries. There are many other acts of violence from the past where victims on all sides would wish to have more information on what happened to their loved ones.

As the recent motion in the House acknowledged, we are approaching this task in the context of transformed relations on this island and between Ireland and Britain. While we still have difficult issues which require to be dealt with in a sensitive manner towards finding a resolution, we do so as equal partners, good neighbours and on the basis of mutual respect. In addition, I remind the House that there was a significant and lengthy inquiry by two very eminent judges, Mr. Justice Hamilton and Mr. Justice Barron, a thorough examination by an Oireachtas committee and a full commission of investigation conducted by Mr. Patrick MacEntee. The total cost of the Barron inquiries amounted to €3.5 million and the total cost of the MacEntee commission of investigation was €2.6 million.

As set out in the programme for Government, the Government is fully committed to the implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements, which have brought about transformational change on this island. Under the St. Andrews Agreement it was agreed that the Northern Ireland Executive and Irish Government, under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council, would appoint a review group. The group was asked to examine the efficiency and value for money of existing North-South implementation bodies and examine the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the North-South Ministerial Council where mutual benefit would be derived. We will be discussing the outcome of the review at this Friday's plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. At that meeting, I will take the opportunity to highlight the North-South aspects of the programme for Government and the Government's commitment to North-South and all-island economic co-operation. We will also have a broad ranging discussion on the economic challenges facing all parts of this island, including banking reform and the National Asset Management Agency.

In addition, there will be a full discussion of progress across a range of areas of North-South co-operation including progress on the A5-A8 roads, good progress on road safety, co-operation on innovation and the work of North-South bodies, particularly as it relates to fostering economic recovery across the island. The establishment of the North-South parliamentary forum and North-South consultative forum will also be on the agenda.

I intend to visit Northern Ireland in the near future although there are no specific plans in place at present. Regarding corporation tax issues, while this is a matter for the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government is positively disposed towards any issue that will assist the all-island economy in any way possible.

See this speech in context