Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have tabled ten questions in this group on Northern Ireland matters. Questions Nos. 23 and 24 relate to European matters, but they were lumped in to this group for some reason.

On 14 June what was termed "a new economic pact for Northern Ireland" was launched in Downing Street. I watched the launch on television and found it amazing that there did not appear to be any Government involved in the announcement. In addition, there was no mention of the Border region or cross-Border co-operation. The only mention of the Republic in the 15 specific points in the pact relates to an attempt to attract tourists visiting here to spend more money and time in the North. This was not just a discussion about the British budget but also about the economic development of the North. It was almost unprecedented for the all-island dimension to be ignored. I have not witnessed this for some time. I noted the lack of a Government presence at the announcement, but that was a logical extension of the hands-off policy adopted by the Government parties on Northern Ireland. In the past 15 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed, I cannot recollect an occasion such as this where the Irish Government was outside the discussion on such a pact. A core principle of the Agreement is that the shared economic interests of the entire Border region should be recognised. Will the Taoiseach comment on this and how he envisages that we will return to putting this core strand of the Agreement back into the equation?

My other questions relate to the Justice for the Forgotten group and the Finucane case. The Justice for the Forgotten representatives have been active for years on various issues, but, in particular, they are requesting that files be released on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings in order that relatives can access all of the information available at the time. I do not understand why the Taoiseach has not met them yet. Some months ago and again last year I asked him to meet them. I do not understand why he will not meet them. This was one of the worst atrocities in the past 40 years on the island. Many of us have attended the commemorations of the bombings. The relatives at least deserve some recognition from the Taoiseach and the Government. I acknowledge that he has said officials have met them, but I would have thought that by this stage he would have met them and I am disappointed he has not done so. Will he meet them as a matter of urgency? Can he update the House on the issues that the Justice for the Forgotten group has with the ongoing inquires into the bombings?

I acknowledge the Taoiseach's statement that the Government supports a statutory inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. Prime Minister Cameron is taking a different position. Will the Taoiseach outline to the House the steps he intends to take to have the Weston Park Agreement implemented in full? This is an international agreement between the British and Irish Governments. Is it the case that the family will have to go to the European Court of Human Rights? Is the Taoiseach disappointed with Prime Minister Cameron's response to date? Are there creative ways that can be opened up to have the inquiry agreed by the two Governments and under way?

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