Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach will be aware, 48 young people were killed in this city in the Stardust fire in 1981. It was one of the greatest tragedies to befall the people of the capital city. The original inquiry into the fire found that the cause was probably arson, but that finding has long been disputed by the families of the victims and others who have examined the evidence closely. The families of a number of those who died in the fire asked various experts to review the transcripts of the original inquiry and these experts have come to an entirely different conclusion. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the families are seeking a new commission of investigation into this terrible event. The main basis for this request is the report by a senior counsel, Mr. Paul Coffey, whom the previous Government tasked with reviewing the Stardust affair and the Foy report commissioned by the families. I hope we can persuade the Minister for Justice and Equality to change his mind, but thus far he has rejected calls for an inquiry into the Stardust tragedy. Will the Taoiseach meet the families of the victims to discuss their demands? Will he support them in their search for justice and establish a new commission of investigation to be headed by a judge and which would draw on whatever expertise was necessary to examine this tragedy?

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