Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Irrespective of any differences of opinion, no one disputes the magnitude of this tragedy or the impact it had on the families concerned and, as the Deputy said, the wider community. We are all conscious that the 34th anniversary of the fire falls this weekend and that this must be a particularly difficult time of year for all affected.

As the Deputy will be aware, following a long campaign on the part of the victims, Mr. Paul Coffey SC was appointed in 2008, with the agreement of the Stardust Victims Committee, to review the case made by the latter for a new inquiry into the fire. Mr. Coffey publicly invited submissions from all interested parties and the committee, to which the Deputy referred, gave extensive oral evidence and made written submissions as to its case for a new inquiry. Mr. Coffey's report concluded that, in the absence of any identified evidence as to the cause of the fire, the most another inquiry could achieve would be another set of hypothetical findings, which would not be in the public interest.

While Mr. Coffey's findings were widely welcomed at the time, there has continued to be dissatisfaction, which has given rise to extensive correspondence and communications between the committee and some of its representatives and my Department and other agencies. In these communications, the committee has continued to argue for the validity of an alternative hypothesis as to the cause of the fire.

I met representatives of the Stardust victims committee in July last year and this meeting provided me with a very good opportunity to hear their concerns at first hand. With regard to the question of any new evidence that might warrant the consideration of a further inquiry, two reports compiled by a researcher associated with the committee, who was named by the Deputy, were submitted to my Department last year. My Department was given to understand that a third and final report would be submitted in due course. However, no final report was submitted and the researcher concerned requested the return of the two reports that had been submitted. In compliance with this request, the reports were returned to the researcher. My Department has, through the Stardust victims committee, requested that the decision to withdraw these reports be reconsidered.

I have the greatest sympathy for all those affected by the fire, as I know does everybody in this House, and I understand that those involved in the committee remain convinced that their explanation for what happened on the night is, in fact, what did occur.

As I have outlined, my Department has requested that the decision to withdraw the reports be reconsidered. If these, or any other submissions, are received, they will, of course, be examined in detail and a response will be issued to the committee in due course.

Allegations raised by the Stardust Victims Committee and its representatives in regard to certain matters are the subject of an ongoing investigation by An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that this is a complex investigation and, as the Deputy will understand, I cannot do anything that might cut across it. It is right, of course, that concerns about this dreadful and tragic event be raised in this House again. I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

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