Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I am glad the Taoiseach raised the issue of Pat Finucane with leaders in the United States over the St. Patrick's Day period. He is of course quite correct to differentiate between on the one hand the very many instances that require public examination and closure for families - and there are many of them - and the case of Pat Finucane on the other. As he correctly said commitments were entered into knowingly and openly at Weston Park in respect of Pat Finucane. The curious thing is that at the time of the Weston Park meeting it was not just the instance that gave rise to the Smithwick tribunal and death of Pat Finucane, there were a number of other cases that Judge Cory considered and deemed appropriate for inquiries - the death of Rosemary Nelson being a case in point. Each and every one of those cases has been expedited in a manner appropriate and consistent with Weston Park with the exception of the case of Pat Finucane. We all understand the message that sends not just to broad Nationalists or republicans in Ireland but to the population on these shores and beyond. There is a strong suspicion - let me put it that way - that the British state is unwilling to proceed and will hinder any effort to have an inquiry into the very case that lays bare the phenomenon of British collusion in the war in Ireland.

The Taoiseach conceded that the Weston Park Agreement has been breached. That has been done quite brazenly and consistently by the British Administration. The Taoiseach says, and I accept his word, that he raised it with the Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron. However, simply raising it is not enough. The Finucane family is deeply disappointed with the manner in which the British have turned their backs on the agreement and on them. When the family had the meeting with the Prime Minister at which he broke the news that there would not be an inquiry, the family left that meeting. To the best of my knowledge, that was an unprecedented act by the family in question. What we need is a sense from the Taoiseach of what he proposes to do to keep the British Government to commitments entered into at Weston Park. The Taoiseach is not the British Prime Minister so he cannot directly undo his actions. The Taoiseach said as much and that is a statement of fact. However, the Taoiseach is the second party to an international and binding agreement. What will he do to insist and ensure that the British Administration keeps to the agreement it made?

In the course of the visit to the US what level of support did the Taoiseach manage to garner for the Finucane family in respect of holding an inquiry? I accept that he raised and addressed the issue but what concrete commitments, if any, did he secure in the course of that visit? Our party leader, Deputy Gerry Adams, wrote to the Taoiseach since the last time these issues were raised in the Dáil on 8 May. In his correspondence he advocated that the Government compile a comprehensive report on the Pat Finucane case as well as others, such as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and Ballymurphy, and present it to the Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron. Has the Taoiseach taken that suggestion on board? If so, what is the current position? What does the Taoiseach intend to do to progress these issues?

I also wish to raise a different but related issue. We spoke with the Taoiseach last week about the constitutional convention that will be established in September. Did the Taoiseach mention this matter in the course of his trip to the United States? The Government has said the issue of voting rights for Irish emigrants in presidential elections will be on the agenda of the constitutional convention. That is very welcome. In the course of our economic crisis we have rediscovered the value and worth of the Irish diaspora in the global community. Many initiatives have been taken to bring together key players, not least from among Irish Americans. However, we believe there should be a level of reciprocation. On the one hand we sought the connection with our global community to assist us now and into the future, not least in terms of rebuilding the economy. On the other, there must be an element of giving from this side. It is our firm view that the global Irish community must have a concrete input into the political and democratic life of their native land and extending those voting rights is a way of making that a reality.

Did the Taoiseach raise the issue of the convention? Did he mention that these voting rights would be on the agenda and, if so, what response did he receive?

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