Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan referred back to her earlier amendment. In recent times the Tánaiste and I have made the importance of this quite clear to the British Government. On a number of occasions Dáil Éireann has passed motions unanimously that an independent international judicial review take place in respect of all the documents in order to establish the full facts of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and other attacks in this jurisdiction as evidenced by the contributions of Deputy Brendan Smith. We have made it clear that in the absence of a response from the British Government the matter remains of deep concern to the Government here. We will continue to engage at the highest level, including at Head of Government level through the Taoiseach.

I say to Deputy Ó Laoghaire that the precedent of the mechanism that was employed in respect of the Kingsmill killings is that to which we are referring in this legislation. No conflict between a Garda Commissioner and a coroner should arise nor would it arise at the stage of the section 3 mechanism. That is one reason for not accepting the amendment. In addition it is incomplete in its drafting and could be unworkable. I ask the Deputy to withdraw it.

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