Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Adams in his expression of sympathy to families who lost 48 members in the Stardust fire 35 years ago. Nothing we say or do can bring back those loved ones. Those of us who can remember the tragedy on that weekend can never forget it.

The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, negotiated, both on his own behalf and with his group, putting a particular issue about the Stardust fire into the programme for Government, which was agreed and accepted. That element which he negotiated states, "Full regard will be had to any new evidence which emerges which would be likely to definitely establish the cause of the fire at Stardust." That is from the programme for Government, adopted by the House, and which was negotiated by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. He has had a personal interest in this matter for many years, as indeed have other Members - such as Deputy Broughan, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, and Deputy Haughey - in the constituencies affected.

It has been 35 years since the Stardust fire. Up to 214 people were injured. Families and relatives of the victims of the tragedy have never received full and complete answers as to what occurred on the night of 14 February 1981. As Deputy Adams knows, in order to have any inquiry, there has to be a basis for it. There was a full-scale tribunal of inquiry and the Coffey report into the fire. Arising from both of these, questions were asked and people felt strongly that answers were not given. There are discussions taking place as we speak in respect of this matter. I want to express a willingness that there should be a commission of investigation. The basis upon which that has to take place is one that is being discussed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Equality and the Minister of State at the Department of Health.

Obviously, I would like to see the evidence that has been produced, which is purported to be new evidence that would warrant a commission investigation. There is no disregard to the principle of having a commission of investigation. It is a very sensitive matter. For people who lost loved ones and family members, they can never be brought back. They do deserve to have every attempt made to provide them with answers to their particular questions. Deputy Adams and I have discussed this in the context of so many other areas regarding Northern Ireland, with tragedies on one side or the other. Many of those obviously remain incomplete.

I hope the discussions that are under way will bring about a conclusion whereby matters can be progressed. As I said, the programme for Government is very clear on this. What is in the programme was negotiated directly by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. I hope that can be followed through because the Government wants to implement what it actually agreed to.

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