Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings this Friday. The legacy of that atrocity lives on in the memory of many. In my own town of Monaghan, I know how it impacted on people. I acknowledge the people who lost their lives that day. The bomb in Monaghan went off outside Greacen's pub. I was just reading about two children whose father dropped them to a hall that day while he went into Greacen's pub. When the bomb went off, the children were taken home in the panic. Later, the news came that their father had been badly injured in the bombing. This event happened 50 years ago but its legacy lives on.

The Government has supported all-party Dáil motions on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. There has been agreement right across the House on those motions. The matter continues to be a priority for the Government. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has consistently raised the previous motions with the British Government, most recently with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 18 and 29 April. He will continue to do so. We discussed the issue at the Cabinet yesterday. There is agreement on it right across the House.

I cannot give the Deputy a commitment regarding the Garda files. However, I give her a commitment that I will raise the matter with the relevant Minister and the Tánaiste to see whether any further progress can be made.

See this speech in context