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

On the questions I tabled on the Justice for the Forgotten and the Finucane case, I know the Taoiseach's schedule has been extremely busy but in regard to the Justice for the Forgotten, as has been said by others in the House, this was the largest atrocity during the Troubles. I am talking about Dubliners and people from Monaghan. They have watched other groups being met and in essence they are very disappointed at this stage that the Taoiseach has not met with them. He seems to be indicating that will happen sooner rather than later. Can he indicate if it will meet with the relatives in the next month or in the next six weeks before the summer recess? Can we say that to them or can the Taoiseach say that to them in the House? It is the least they deserve. They are a constructive group and have legitimacy on their side in terms of the issues that they wish to pursue.

Regarding the need for a statutory inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane I am unclear from the Taoiseach's earlier reply as to how he intends to progress that with the British Prime Minister. He has indicated that his relationship with the Prime Minister is a good one, notwithstanding the earlier criticisms I had in terms of what happened on the economic side but in terms of the full implementation of an agreement between the two Governments, for the past two and a half years we have been asking the same question in essence. There is a deadlock between the two Governments on this issue. Are creative solutions being worked on by both Governments? Is there any meaningful discussion under way between both Governments to find a way through this particular impasse? Failure to implement the Weston Park agreement in full undermines the credibility of the process and gives ammunition to those who want to undermine and pour scorn on it and its achievements. I ask that some initiative be taken to find a creative way of ending the deadlock and the impasse that has clearly emerged in regard to the fulfilment of an agreement between the two Governments on an independent statutory inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane

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