Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if officials of his or any other Department were involved in or had their attention brought to negotiations between the family of Robert McCartney, Sinn Féin representatives and IRA representatives prior to the release of the IRA statement on the murder of Robert McCartney on 25 February 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7704/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his meeting with the sisters of Robert McCartney in Dublin on 23 February 2005; the efforts the Government has been making to assist the investigation into his murder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7703/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 140 together.

As the House is aware, I met with Robert McCartney's sisters and his partner two weeks ago. The family were very clear in their desire to have the killers and their accomplices charged and tried in court. Their public campaign has been necessitated by the fact that the police were being hindered in their investigation as a result of the threats and intimidation against witnesses. I assured the family that they had the full support of the Government in their campaign.

As regards the statements that had been made by Sinn Féin the McCartney family made it clear to me that it was one thing to issue statements and quite another to see results. They asked that the Government keep up the pressure on Sinn Féin and others who could influence those responsible, which we have done. I assured them that the issue would be kept on the Government's agenda as has been done in other cases, such as those of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Patrick Finucane.

I also informed them that the case had been discussed at the meeting between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair when they met in Brussels on 22 February. I can inform the House now that I also discussed the case with Secretary of State Murphy during the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference last week. I understand that this case and that of Pat Finucane was discussed by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair when they met in London on 3 March last.

I was pleased to be able to participate in the debate last week regarding the McCartney murder and to offer the Government's full support for the motion.

Contacts with the family and other interested parties are ongoing. While my officials and I continue to monitor all developments regarding this case, neither I nor my officials were party to any discussions between the family, Sinn Féin and the IRA.