Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like everybody else, while I have been in the House this morning I have been reading on my phone about the UK Supreme Court decision in relation to the murder of Pat Finucane and the attempts by the family to secure a full public inquiry. The Government's position remains clear and consistent. We believe an independent public inquiry into the Finucane case should be established in line with the commitments made by the British and Irish Governments at Weston Park in 2001. The Taoiseach and I confirmed and reaffirmed this when we met the Finucane family in recent months. That is still our position and it is not going to change, regardless of this legal decision. I have not seen the full legal decision. We probably need to study it before we can make an informed commentary on its implications. The Government's position on the substantive issue remains consistent and firm. There was an agreement that a full public inquiry would be established. That agreement has not been followed through on. We believe it should be followed through on. That position is not going to change. There are dangers with putting strict timelines on talks. We have spoken to the party leaders about whether there is a window between now and the summer for an intensive period of talks during which an agreement could be reached as a basis for re-establishing a functioning assembly and Executive. I believe there is such an opportunity if parties want to take it. That is something about which the two Governments are talking directly to the two parties now.

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