Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan back to the House. I had been looking over towards her more familiar spot opposite me but I welcome her to the upper reaches of the benches.

Dealing with the legacy issues of the past relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland and the Dublin-Monaghan bombings is a major priority for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. Moreover, this commitment also is reflected in the new programme for Government. Members will be aware that yesterday, this House debated and adopted an all-party motion, supported by the Government, on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. This motion recalls the two previous all-party motions of 2008 and 2011, which call on the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original documents in their possession relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Yesterday’s debate and all-party motion are important in reaffirming the shared will and determination of the Thirty-second Dáil to secure progress on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. The motion renews the mandate to the Government to actively pursue with the British Government the implementation of the 2008 and 2011 all-party motions. The Government is committed to actively engaging in this regard.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have previously discussed the implementation of the all-party motions with the British Government on a number of occasions, including most recently on 9 May with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I have made clear to the Secretary of State that there is a pressing need to provide answers to the families of the victims. The Taoiseach has raised this issue with Prime Minister Cameron while emphasising the Government’s continued support for the Dáil motions. Despite our urging, the British Government is still considering how to respond to the previous Dáil motions. I will, however, continue to raise this issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in our forthcoming meetings when I will also bring to her attention the latest all-party motion passed yesterday in the Dáil.

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