Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I made it clear that we could not have a financial transaction tax that was applicable within the eurozone, which would affect us here in Dublin, but not applicable in the City of London. The Prime Minister has been clear about this himself. He says that if a transaction tax of this nature is introduced, it should be by agreement with all the countries and applicable in a global sense. As the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Clegg, pointed out, the authors of the report on the financial transaction tax said that it could drive 500,000 jobs out of the European Union. It is in order for the French President to introduce a financial transaction tax in France if he so wishes. I merely pointed out our position on this.

With regard to the legacy issues, I did raise the issues of Ballymurphy, the murder of Pat Finucane and the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, as I indicated to the Deputy during Question Time already. I do not recognise any hierarchy of victims. I was around long enough to read and hear about so many murders and deaths on all sides during a 30-year period. Families in so many areas were deprived of loved ones and kith and kin. When I was at the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh, the point was made to me that this State should apologise for murders committed by or associated with the IRA. I said that the IRA, in that form and during that period, was the enemy of the Irish State and that members of the Garda and the Defence Forces as well as civilians had lost their lives as a consequence of that reign of terror.

With regard to the unfortunate and tragic death of Pat Finucane, I have made clear already that this is more than a difference of opinion. We had a unanimous decision of this House, on all sides and in all parties, that there should be a public inquiry into the case. That arose, as the Deputy is aware, from the Weston Park agreement, in which it was agreed by both Governments that there would be a public inquiry if this was recommended by Judge Cory. The judge made a recommendation with regard to another incident that took place in this jurisdiction, and this State responded by setting up the Smithwick tribunal, which is wending its way to finality whenever the sole member decides. I am as disappointed as anybody else that the recommendation of Judge Cory was not accepted by the British Government. I am conscious of the fact that the day after our meeting there was the High Court decision to grant a judicial review to the Finucane family. They took that case and I understand it will be held in the High Court in Belfast next May.

The Deputy has raised the Ballymurphy incident with me previously. I attended the Aisling Awards in Belfast, at which the recipient of the Person of the Year award was Pat Finucane's wife, and had the privilege of seeing the representatives of the families of the Ballymurphy victims accept the Culture and Arts award for the play Ballymurphy - The Aftermath, which they dedicated to those who lost their lives during that dreadful time. I have no objection to meeting with the representatives of the Ballymurphy families the next time I happen to be in Belfast, as I indicated to them that night.

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