Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have had quite a few exchanges on the matter and on each occasion the Minister has told me that dealing with the legacy of the past is a major priority and that both he and the Taoiseach have raised the matter with the British Prime Minister and the Secretary of State, stressing its importance. In December, the Taoiseach assured us that he would pursue all possible avenues. As the Minister indicated, the three motions were conveyed to the British Government but nothing has been progressed in terms of the Irish request for an independent, international review of all the relevant documentation. The Barron report went a certain distance, as did the McEntee report, despite the absence of all the documentation. The reasons for the latter are, first, that the British Government did not co-operate in handing over documents - it is still not co-operating - and, second, no Irish Government has pursued this matter with the full vigour required. How close is the Minister to finding a formula that would allow the undisclosed documents to be made available to an international judge or similar person?

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