Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are all here today in a political arena. It is true to say that our politics stem from humanity. Before we are politicians we are human beings. We feel love and pain, and we feel the love and pain felt by others. Today I ask the Tánaiste, as a caring man, to take a personal lead in bringing about an immediate and unhindered commencement of the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire.

Antoinette Keegan has asked me to say that her mother, on her deathbed, pleaded with her children never to give up until a proper and fair inquest is held into how she lost her two daughters, Mary and Martina.

Antoinette said she would never give up. She believes the inquest, with compassionate commitment from the Tánaiste, will happen under his watch. The problems that currently exist are easily surmounted, including the failure to identify an appropriate and secure location for the holding of the inquest. The State has ownership of many buildings in the city that are appropriate. I ask the Tánaiste to intervene personally by working with relevant Departments to ensure the simple task of identifying the venue is carried out within the next two weeks. Finally, I am appealing with the Tánaiste, with his considerable powers and obvious humanity, to follow the process to the commencement of an inquest with a personal interest to ensure no more obstacles cause further delays, mistrust and hurt.

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