Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wholeheartedly welcome the Bill and I would like to take time to speak on Part 8 of it, which deals with the tragic fire in the Stardust disco in Artane in 1981, 41 years ago. There have been 41 years of families seeking answers on the events of that tragic night and on the circumstances around the deaths of their loved ones. At every turn the families have met obstacles in trying to get justice for their loved ones who lost their lives on that fateful night. The owners of the property still avoid any responsibilities. It is widely known there were serious breaches of basic health and safety on the night, and the families and survivors need justice to allow them to rest after 41 years of campaigning and to give them the comfort of knowing they have got justice for their families.

Mixed into this Bill in some flowery language is the right for an inquest to be held before a jury. This is the right and proper course. For far too long laws have prevented the Stardust families from getting full disclosure and I welcome the legislation which implores a coroner's court to play its full part in any inquest. No persons or bodies that may have information that could bring about the closure the families deserve should be excluded from, or have any way to exclude themselves from, any inquiries. I call on all parties, including the Garda, the coroner's court, the owners of the property, and anyone who may have any information to step up and bring this overdue and heartbreaking inquest to a successful conclusion for those who lost their loved ones that night. I ask the Minister not to allow subsections in this Bill to provide any loophole for any parties not to play their full parts in the inquiry and to put the full weight of her office behind supporting the quest of the Stardust families for justice. I wish the Stardust families well and I send my condolences for the 48 children who never came home. As always, the families have our full support.

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