Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Last year, President Michael D. Higgins visited Monaghan town to lay a wreath to commemorate the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings 50 years previously. It was a poignant moment for the relatives and friends of the 33 people who lost their lives in Monaghan and Dublin on that fatal day - the greatest loss of life on a single day during the entire Troubles.A year on, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families again this week. It is said that to be forgotten is to die twice. That is a very relevant comment for the families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The families have continued for yet another year to await the truth of what actually happened on that fateful day on 17 May 1974. I pay tribute to all those who have worked so hard down through the years to try to lift the lid on this mystery. I acknowledge the enormous work done by Justice for the Forgotten, and Margaret Urwin in particular, as well as everyone else and, indeed, all the Members of both Houses who tabled many motions on this issue to try to move it forward.

Each year we gather here to discuss this year. Last year, there was a promise of progress with an investigation by Iain Livingstone into the Troubles, including Operation Denton, an investigation into the Glenanne gang which has been blamed for approximately 120 sectarian murders in the 1970s and 1980s and is suspected of carrying out the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as potentially others, such as the bombing in Belturbet in December 1972 where two young teenagers lost their lives and the bombing in Castleblayney in 1976 where one man lost his life.

As the decades pass, the death of loved ones related to the victims of 1974 is becoming more and more prominent, making the quest for truth and justice even more pressing as they suffer the insult of truth delayed and truth denied as their own life journeys reach their natural end.

I would be grateful if the Minister of State could update me about the reports and when the victims of the Monaghan and Dublin bombings can expect the reports to be published.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank Senator Gallagher.

First, I want to express my condolences and those of the Government to all of the families whose loved ones were killed and to all those who were injured and maimed on that awful day of 17 May 1974. I am old enough to remember it well. It is utterly incomprehensible and heartbreaking that on a day almost 51 years ago so many innocent people going about their daily lives, perhaps going to work, shopping, meeting friends, walking in the city, taking the train or whatever, were callously and brutally attacked. Their lives were changed forever. The survivors and the families of the victims remain firm in their quest for justice and for information about what happened to their loved ones. I commend them on the courage and dignity with which they have pursued justice and accountability in the years since the attacks.

The Government is fully committed to seeking the truth behind these events. We have worked consistently to implement the all-party motions adopted by the other House which call on the British Government to allow access to all relevant documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and we continue to regularly raise this case with the British Government. Most recently, on 24 April, at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Hillsborough Castle, the Minister raised the bombings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, referencing the findings of the Barron and MacEntee inquiries, citing it as an ongoing issue of concern. The Government will continue to raise these bombings and the all-party motions with the British Government.

Last year Senator Gallagher also tabled a Commencement Matter on the bombings, with a focus on the reports due to be published on these atrocities and I will give an update. The Operation Denton report, which is an independent analytical review being carried out by Kenova into the Glenanne gang, is still awaited.The Dublin and Monaghan bombings are included as part of this report. A further report is to be published by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The ombudsman investigation, entitled Operation Newham, is examining collusion with the Glenanne gang. In recent weeks the ombudsman, Marie Anderson, confirmed that the investigation has led to a decision by the public prosecution service to prosecute a former member of the RUC for offences, including murder, so she is not in a position to publish as it would be potentially prejudicial to the future criminal proceedings.

The Government is fully committed to assisting the families and finding the truth of what happened. In addition to the Barron and MacEntee enquiries, An Garda Síochána has been assisting the UK authorities in their investigations I just referenced. I will add to that in my final response.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response to date. I know she has great feeling for the victims of the Monaghan and Dublin bombings and their ongoing journey in trying to find the truth of what happened on that fateful day. I know some of these people personally and all they strive for is the truth. Unfortunately, the British Government has been a constant roadblock in people's quest to do so. The Irish State has handed over documents to facilitate the work of this inquiry. I am disappointed we have not got to a point where a report has been published yet and I do not know whether the Minister of State is in a position to give any indication of the timeframe involved with that.

Briefly, I thank everybody who has worked so hard to try to bring a conclusion to this. Indeed, I mention Barry Lenihan from RTÉ who has done intensive work in interviewing the victims' families and the survivors of that fateful day and the work he did to allow them a platform to express how they were feeling. That was a useful piece of work and I compliment Barry Lenihan on it. I look forward to the Minister of State having any additional information she might be able to pass on to us.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I mentioned the Barron and MacEntee inquiries. It is important to note that when a legal issue arose that would have prevented the provision of Garda material to Operation Denton, the then Minister for Justice took extraordinary steps to put in place a bespoke mechanism to allow relevant information from An Garda Síochána to be shared with Operation Denton. Of course, the investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings remains an open case in this jurisdiction. Any new evidence that comes to light, from whatever source, will be fully pursued by An Garda Síochána.

I thank Senator Gallagher for his ongoing commitment to seeking out the truth in regard to the atrocity we now refer to as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which took place 51 years ago next Saturday on 17 May 1974.