Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. [29415/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if he plans to convene a meeting of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30768/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the position in respect of the establishment of the North-South parliamentary forum as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30769/07]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the future role planned for the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30967/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he has been in contact with the family of a murder victim (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34141/07]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach the discussions he has had with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, regarding the peace process since 12 December 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35288/07]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

With the restoration of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, there are no current proposals to reconvene the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. The development of a North-South parliamentary forum was discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, in July, where we agreed it is a matter best progressed by the two elected institutions. It was agreed at the NSMC meeting that officials from the two Administrations will make contact with the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas and report back to the NSMC at the earliest opportunity on the prospects of developing such a forum.

On 10 October, I received a courtesy call from the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr. Willie Hay, during which we touched on the issue of establishing a North-South parliamentary forum. Mr. Hay also met with the Ceann Comhairle during his visit to Dublin and had preliminary discussions on the potential for the establishment of a joint parliamentary forum. I understand there will be further contact on this matter between the two institutions in the future. There are complex issues to be addressed, including the east-west arrangements, but I hope that in the new atmosphere we can make progress in a way with which everyone is comfortable.

I had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, on the margins of the European Council in Brussels last Friday. We discussed recent developments in Northern Ireland, the prospects for 2008 and other matters of mutual interest.

I have not been in direct contact with the family of murder victim, Paul Quinn, but I have extended my sympathies to them on their tragic loss. The Minister for Foreign Affairs met with the family yesterday and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is meeting them tomorrow. I have also agreed to meet Mr. and Mrs. Quinn if that would be helpful. There is an ongoing police investigation into the murder and the Garda is working very closely with the PSNI to ensure that everything possible is being done to bring the perpetrators to justice. I urge anyone with information to co-operate fully with the police investigation. It is only through full co-operation with the law enforcement agencies that the perpetrators of this vicious crime will be brought to justice.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have two questions for the Taoiseach arising from his reply. With regard to the North-South parliamentary forum, my understanding of the communiqué issued on 17 July following the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh was that the two Governments would take the initiative to contact the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas with a view to progressing the establishment of the forum. I would like to know whether that initiative was taken. The Taoiseach's reply referred to contacts but these appear to have been initiated in the case of Northern Ireland by the Speaker of the Assembly.

In regard to the murder of Paul Quinn, the Taoiseach will recall the considerable hurt experienced by the Quinn family and the anger in the locality due to comments he made on the matter in this House in October. He stated that the murder appeared to be linked to local criminal activity and was not paramilitary but pertained to feuds about criminality. He referred today to the meeting the Quinn family held yesterday with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, about which they expressed their satisfaction that the Minister accepted on behalf of the Government that Mr. Quinn had not been involved in criminal activity. Will the Taoiseach take this opportunity to withdraw the remarks he made about the matter in October in order to correct the record and confirm what the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, told the family yesterday?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the development of the parliamentary forum, as Deputy Gilmore noted it was discussed and included in the communiqué in July. We agreed at the time that it would be best progressed by the two elected institutions. It was decided at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting that officials from the two Administrations would make contact with the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas and would report back to the council meeting in February. I understand that is currently taking place. I took the opportunity when I met the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Hay, to discuss how we could progress the issue. Clearly, there are sensitivities around how we do that but he is anxious that we make progress. We are also anxious to make progress and I hope we can address the matter in the council in February and progress it in early 2008.

On the Deputy's second question, the Minister for Foreign Affairs met Paul Quinn's family yesterday and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, will meet them tomorrow. I fully support everything the Minister for Foreign Affairs had to say to the family. As I previously stated when asked about this matter, albeit not on the occasion to which Deputy Gilmore referred, the only people in this case who are criminals are the ones who murdered Paul. In dealing with questions in this House and elsewhere, I shared certain information about the lines of inquiry being pursued and in speaking about criminality I was responding to questions asked on whether the murder had a political motivation or implications for the Northern Ireland Executive. I did not in any way intend to make an issue out of the character of Paul Quinn and I am happy to make that clear to the House.

It remains the case that no information is available to me from the Garda Commissioner to suggest this attack was authorised or sanctioned by the IRA, a question I am continually asked outside the House.

I understand that the Chief Constable of the PSNI gave an interview on Saturday in which he said the same thing. I of course am aware that questions have been raised about the involvement of local people with IRA associates and IRA associations. It is a matter for the police investigation to follow that through and hopefully the killers will be brought to justice as soon as possible. I acknowledge the enormous amount of co-operation in this case. On the last occasion, I urged people to co-operate with the Garda and the PSNI investigations on both sides of the Border and people are doing that.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I fully understand the position in which the Taoiseach finds himself on this matter. I can understand the various signals and messages he must give in this regard. I was pleased to hear what he said, namely, that he was not reflecting in any way on the character of Paul Quinn when he made his remarks. Will the Taoiseach confirm on the record of the House that, as Paul Quinn's family stated yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, accepted on behalf of the Government that Paul Quinn was not involved in criminal activity?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to state what the Minister told the family yesterday, that we have no evidence whatsoever that Paul Quinn was involved in criminal activity.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is something very wrong here as words mean much to families in these circumstances. I accept the Taoiseach's statement that in the view of the Government, the late Paul Quinn was not a criminal. It is important to clear up that matter. Words are important because Paul Quinn was murdered and the persons who murdered him sought authorisation to carry out the punishment beating that resulted in his life being taken with iron bars in a shed. In the case of the late Jerry McCabe, for instance, while his death was not authorised by the IRA, according to the statement at the time, the go-ahead was given by an authorised person. In this case, authorisation or permission was sought by a person or persons to carry out a punishment beating on Paul Quinn, and that resulted in his murder.

Based on information available to him from the Garda, the Army or the PSNI, is it the Taoiseach's view that the persons who authorised that punishment beating, that is, the murder of Paul Quinn, were members of the IRA or, in their granting of this dastardly authorisation, that they still constitute that body? There was a huge reaction to this murder, not only by the family for whom it caused great trauma, but also because of the perception of the damage it could do to the ongoing peace process, which everyone supports. Is it the Taoiseach's view that the person or persons who gave that authorisation were members of the IRA or still constitute a group that represents what the IRA stood for? While I know this is a difficult point, Paul Quinn lies dead as a consequence.

The British Government has rejected the equalisation of corporate tax rates North and South. Although we talk about an economic entity for the island of Ireland, Sir David Varney's report published yesterday stated that this is not the way forward. What is the Taoiseach's view on that? First Minister Paisley and Deputy First Minister McGuinness visited the United States to make a case for foreign direct investment in Northern Ireland. Obviously a much higher rate of corporate tax will make doing so less feasible than in the South. When referring to the development of the economic entity of Ireland in the future, is it not feasible to suggest that from an economic perspective, such foreign direct investment on the island of Ireland from a country as great as the United States would be very much enhanced by having an equivalent rate of corporate tax North and South?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated, the only criminals I know in this case are those who murdered Mr. Paul Quinn. We all agree on this point. Deputy Kenny will accept and appreciate that there is considerable anecdotal evidence about his murder and many comments have been made. Our own contacts have made comments to me. I can only base my view on the findings of the Garda investigation, which has not given me reason to say any more than what I have said.

The official position is that there is no information available to me from the Garda Commissioner to suggest that this attack was authorised or sanctioned by the IRA and this remains the position. As I said when last speaking about criminality, the crime in question does not arise from paramilitary activity, nor was it sanctioned or condoned by the republican movement. This remains the position of the Garda investigating officers and that is the information given to us officially and restated officially in advance of the Ministers' meetings with the Quinn family yesterday and tomorrow.

A few murders of this kind over the past few years — I am thankful that there have not been too many, although one is one too many — have led to an enormous number of questions and to tension. From our perspective, we listen carefully and methodically to what the Garda tells us about anecdotal evidence. The Garda's position on the murder of Mr. Paul Quinn remains the same and, if it changes, I will obviously inform the House.

Deputy Kenny will know we have taken a strong line on the Varney report over the past two years and have supported the efforts of the various business communities of all traditions in the North working collectively which have made a coherent case to the British Government to lower their tax liability in the interest of business and direct investment in Northern Ireland. We are all familiar with the arguments of the British Government, particularly over the past 18 months. The Varney report did not achieve as much as we wanted it to achieve but it has recommended that there be a reduced state sector in the North and North-South trade investments. Issues of science and research would have to be addressed.

There are some worthy initiatives in the Varney report, but not the one that the business groups would want. We must explore all the recommendations of the report to determine how they can help. When I discussed this issue with the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, on Friday afternoon, he said aspects of the report would lead to further examination and discussion. He was obviously aware of its content but did not disclose this fully to me. I obviously stated I would welcome further discussion and that we would continue to support the very coherent business case that has been put by the people in Northern Ireland.

As I have stated many times, both in the United States and Europe, the island of Ireland is a small place. It is as easy for our agencies to project a positive image of the whole island in order to attract investment and promote tourism and the export of goods as it is to project a positive image of part of the island. Our position since the Good Friday Agreement, under which we offered to establish one industrial development authority and one tourism authority, remains the same, which is to promote these activities in every way possible. We will continue to do that. It is not to say that I do not understand the arguments of the British Government about these issues, but I still think the arguments we put forward are better when trying to generate investment, employment and better relations in Northern Ireland.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is it the Taoiseach's intention to meet the parents of Paul Quinn? I intend to meet them when I get an opportunity.

When does the Taoiseach expect the North-South parliamentary forum to be set up? Given what he just said about the presentation of the island of Ireland abroad, be it for tourism or business and so on, does he see the decision of the House to offer unanimous support for building a bilateral arrangement between Ireland and the US as being relevant to presenting Ireland as an island that welcomes the US? Many American business leaders of Irish extraction in the Fortune 500 are moving on in years so it will be necessary to keep the link between Ireland and the US long after we have left this House. The decision of the House to support a bilateral agreement could also come from the North-South parliamentary forum. I know this does not deal directly with the undocumented Irish, but has the Taoiseach considered that possibility?

The Orange Order in Portadown is claiming that a systematic and orchestrated campaign of intimidation and arson is being carried out against its facilities. The Ballyworkan Orange hall in the Tandragee Road near Portadown was burned last Friday. Will the Taoiseach join me in condemning this kind of activity? Both communities will find it very difficult to live together, work together and be in harmony for the development of the communities in Northern Ireland when this kind of activity goes on. It should be condemned outright.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Both of my colleagues have set out my position but, as I said in my reply, if it helps I will meet the Quinn family.

The bilateral agreement has its merits and it is our view that we should keep arguing that case. It does not solve all the issues, but we have always seen this as an all-island issue. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has argued that we should look at it in that context. He has raised all the points made by the Deputy. It is a changed position. We have had very little emigration for the past 17 or 18 years and that generation of people in their early 20s have already moved into the over 40 age bracket. A time will come when we will not have the numbers we previously had, particularly key people across business. We will continue to pursue that issue. With the Varney report and other reports of the agencies, as well as the North-South bodies, I have always believed, since we agreed the first implementation bodies, that the more co-operation and engagement between the agencies, the better. We have taken the progressive view that we would engage actively to promote investment, tourism and export markets on an all-island basis. The same applies to our arguments on emigration.

I join the Deputy in totally condemning the mischievous targeted activities against Orange halls that have been going on for some months. A number of them occurred on this side of the Border on the night of Hallowe'en. Many of these Orange halls are historic, ancient buildings that are used for community purposes. The hall on this side of the Border has been there for over 100 years. It is entirely disruptive to communities, big and small; and in some cases on our side we have tried to help them with the rehabilitation work to assist in restoring it. It is very hard to restore community buildings that have been there for so long and have been attacked so often. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Ahern, raised the issue yesterday and was strongly supported by the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and Ian Paisley Jnr., MLA. A group is currently targeting halls and we must work with the Garda Síochána and the PSNI to see what can be done.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I join with other voices in once again unreservedly condemning the appalling and brutal murder of Paul Quinn. I wish to make it abundantly clear that this House is of one voice on this matter. There can be no question on that matter. I join in the repeated calls for those with information to co-operate with the respective police services North and South to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. With the forbearance of the Ceann Comhairle I wish to say there can be no doubt where Sinn Féin stands on this matter, irrespective of the views held at any time by those who will hopefully one day be proven to have been involved. These views are irrelevant and it was an act of criminal brutality that must be condemned outright. There can be tolerance, no ifs or buts whatsoever, and this is the position of all elected Sinn Féin voices and our party activists throughout the country.

I add one point of difference. I note a tendency on the part of some to determine responsibility. I caution Members against jumping to conclusions. The family has a view, as do others who are articulating their view ad nauseam. It is only through the respective police authorities North and South that the truth and the full rigours of the law can be brought to bear on the event. It saddens me that we are addressing such a brutal event on the cusp of Christmas.

Regarding the important elements of the Good Friday Agreement that have yet to come to pass, what progress has been made on the all-Ireland parliamentary forum, the consultative civic forum and the framing of the all-Ireland charter of rights? Has the Taoiseach discussed them in the most recent meeting with the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown?

Has the Taoiseach addressed the matter of collusion with Gordon Brown, specifically the murders of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and the extensive list of victims of the bombings in this city and in my home town, Monaghan, on 17 May 1974? Has the Taoiseach sought to progress with the new British Prime Minister the need for a full proper cross-jurisdictional inquiry into all of these and whether the British Government will be fully compliant with the effort to establish the full truth and the extent of collusion as regards those terrible events, of which there are a number greater than those I have mentioned? Can the Taoiseach give the House an indication as to where matters stand and what progress he hopes to make in the coming year?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have three points to make. I welcome what Deputy Ó Caoláin said on the Paul Quinn murder issue and reiterate that the Garda is receiving good co-operation. However, the assistance of everybody is needed in the gathering of information to help resolve what we all agree was an horrendous murder. It is important for the entire process, and more than anything else for the Quinn family, that this matter is brought to justice as soon as possible. Hopefully, we shall get some intelligence in that regard to help the Garda to proceed towards reaching such a position.

On the second matter to do with the North-South parliamentary forum, we continue to press fully in this regard. Discussions are taking place at different levels since the autumn and this initiative will continue. It would be nice if these matters were resolved in the new year so that they are in place for around the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. I should like them to be completed early in 2008. There is no resistance, as such. However, people have been very busy and engaged because of all the new work in the North. It is just a question of trying to the get the remaining issues resolved. Most of the activities since the summer have focused around the Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly and getting the system to work as regards the North-South Ministerial Council. Hopefully, these efforts will move on to encompass the other issues as well.

What was the third matter the Deputy asked me about?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That regarded the issue of collusion.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, I had promised a debate on this and had tried to fit it in before Christmas, but there were just so many debates and so much pressure on time. However, I have asked the Government Whip to arrange for that debate at the beginning of February. My officials and I have continued, as has the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Ahern, to pursue all of the issues. We know the British Government's position on the Finucane case, and that has not altered with the change of Prime Ministers, I can assure the Deputy. The British have pressed for what they purport to be an independent investigation, and that is not a view that we share. We have continued to put forward the view in support of the family and in line with what the Corry report found. It was agreed many years ago, in the 2001 discussions, that these matters should be resolved on that basis. They have not pursued their proposed initiative because they know it has not received our support. Equally, they know this to be the situation as regards those cases that were part of the Weston Park agreement, in particular that the Irish position on this will not change. As officials and individuals have changed, we have continued to make our case trenchantly on this, consistently since the summer of 2001. While their Inquiries Bill was an advance, it was not in line with what the previous Attorney General, the Finucane family and various groups had sought. We have insisted on holding our position in this regard and continue to press it home. We will continue to fight our position. All that has happened because of that is that the British Government has not gone on with its basis. I have not pressed it to do that because it is not satisfactory.

On the other issues, we have had comprehensive reports and we made some progress. It is hard to see if we will make any more progress on that. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet the entire Eames-Bradley group who came to Dublin for a day. I met them for some time and my officials met them for a considerable amount of the day. They also met the Garda Síochána and others. We outlined to them our views on the matters they are investigating, where we can help and how we can try to engage constructively with them and we will continue to do so. I believe they must report by the early summer.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I know these are very weighty matters we are addressing but, going back to your youth, a friend who told you to blow your nose was somebody you could depend upon. I know the Taoiseach is a great Dublin fan, but he is showing his colours and he should check his coat.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is very welcome. It is all very well for others to note it and giggle about it, but I will tell him.

To return to these other very important matters, on the Paul Quinn murder, the Taoiseach made his statement as the Government position on Mr. Quinn. Whatever the truth about Paul Quinn's involvement in criminal activity or otherwise — I understand it is very important to his family — for fear any confusion would arise, it is important that it is stated here today, not just based on the statements of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, following his meeting with the family yesterday, that whether Paul Quinn was involved in criminal activity, what happened to him was an absolute outrage. I want to make that absolutely clear here today for fear that there would be some sense of difference in relation to whether he had or had not been so involved. It is absolutely important that it is clarified that irrespective of the full facts, which may reveal themselves in time, what happened was an outrage and should not have happened.

On the Taoiseach's contacts with the British Government regarding the need to initiate full inquiries into the various matters, I mentioned Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, both of whom were within the Six Counties area of our country and therefore fell into that area currently under British jurisdiction. Regarding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, however, and the murder of my party colleague, Councillor Eddie Fullerton, in his home in County Donegal, these are matters that occurred within this jurisdiction and there is clear evidence of collusion in relation to both of these matters and a number of other murders that occurred along the Border reaches and elsewhere.

Where stands the Government in the call of the Fullerton family and Justice for the Forgotten for the establishment of a full inquiry into the events of 17 May 1974, what led to it and what occurred subsequently, including the most incredible disappearance of the critical files from the so-called — I use that word purposely — Garda investigation? There is growing frustration and annoyance on the part of the families of the victims, those who suffered in those events and the family of my late colleague, Councillor Eddie Fullerton. Lives are moving on, people are getting older and the prospect of truth and justice being established in these cases appears even more remote with what appears to all those concerned and many others to be continued dithering on the part of the Taoiseach and the Government in taking the critical steps to establish the truth about those events.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I remind the Deputy that this is Question Time.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I will conclude. Will the Taoiseach indicate his intentions in the course of 2008 with regard to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Fullerton murder and other incidents in this jurisdiction?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to meet the family of the late Paul Quinn. I attended the meeting in Crossmaglen with Deputies Crawford and McManus and I am aware that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, sent his apologies to the meeting. Not one Fianna Fáil Party Oireachtas Member attended the meeting, although some its councillors were present. The absolute and clear conviction of those who attended was that the IRA had murdered Paul Quinn. It was stated publicly that Mr. Quinn's murder had been the result of a personal difference or altercation. There is no question that he was involved in any criminal activity. There is no "if", "but" or "because" in the case. The facts are that it was a personal issue which would normally have been dealt with by the police.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have a question?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Is the Taoiseach aware that the firm view of the Quinn family and the absolute conviction of everybody who attended the meeting is that the IRA murdered Paul Quinn? Is he aware that Mr. Quinn was lured to his death by persons known to the family?

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to meet the Quinn family and the meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the family. I also welcome the firm statement of my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, and have no doubt he believes what he says. One must meet the Quinn family in their own home, as I did, to realise the difficult position in which they find themselves. It is important the Taoiseach meets the family to clear up the statement he made in the House some time ago. Does he believe this murder could have taken place without a degree of organisation? Could so many people have come together to organise and brutally murder Paul Quinn without the involvement of an organisation?

I am vice chairman of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, of which the Minister for Foreign Affairs was once co-chairman. Has the Taoiseach had any consultation with either of the Unionist parties about sending members to meetings of the body which is the basis for the east-west link of the Good Friday Agreement?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the questions raised by a number of Deputies, I cannot judge on the basis of hearsay and anecdotal evidence or views but on the investigation of a very substantial team of gardaí involved in the case. I have to await their judgment and the outcome of their investigation of the matter. I have heard all the comments on the issue. There is no doubt that bringing a substantial number of people together and using various ways of cleaning the evidence required organisation. That is obvious but does not imply who was involved. The biggest issue is to ensure evidence can be given and some of it can stand up. In a democracy prosecutions must be based on evidence. If people have views — obviously there are strong views in this case — it is a matter for them to make statements to the Garda. A process is available to do this.

On Deputy Crawford's question on the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, we are pressing ahead to try to get the Unionist community to fully participate. I met the family of Eddie Fullerton. I got the Garda at top level to engage with the family in the investigations to try to help move the case on. The family made its case to me, as many of these families have done. A large number of family members attended and gave me all the evidence they had, some of which was known to the Garda and some which they felt was new. I communicated all of that information through my senior officials to the Garda. To the best of my knowledge, the Garda has continued to work on the case. I will ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to follow up with the Garda as to the current position.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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My question was if there would be an inquiry into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, the Fullerton case and others in the course of the coming year.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have followed right through on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and I have committed to what I am doing, based on the Barron reports and the investigations of the Oireachtas. We have continued to pursue that issue. The Eddie Fullerton case was in a different category. I did meet the family at the Deputy's request and I will speak to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as to the current position.