Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised a series of issues of importance. I will do my best to respond to as many of them as I can. First, the Minister for Justice, David Ford, MLA, and I are in regular contact. My most recent meeting with him was in Brussels on Thursday of last week.

We also met briefly on Friday. On Thursday we had some substantive discussions of a preliminary nature arising out of the Smithwick tribunal report and the recommendations relating to it. We have both requested our officials to do some work with regard to those recommendations. From memory, I believe I am right in saying that we are scheduled to meet on 17 December together with the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable. At that point we will continue our further discussions on the implementation of recommendations in the Smithwick report. Some aspects of the recommendations are happening in practice but we will discuss those issues at the meeting.

As I said to the Deputy in respect of the other issues, I do not want to get in the way of the Haass process. It is an important process. It is important the parties in Northern Ireland participate in the process. We will look constructively at what comes out of that process with a view to seeing what steps we might take.

I reiterate something I said earlier. We must be conscious of the victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland in decisions we make and the impact of any decisions on them. I share the view of Deputy Collins about the need for us to know the truth in respect of some aspects and matters. Perhaps I will come back to that.

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