Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations he has made to the British Government regarding the Inquiries Bill and its ongoing attempts to hide the truth regarding collusion in the killing of Pat Finucane. [11483/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Government has been actively engaged on the issue of the Inquiries Bill since it was first published and has been in regular contact with the British authorities at both political and official levels. The Government has also stayed in close contact with the Finucane family.

I raised the matter most recently with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin on 2 February last. The Taoiseach has likewise raised his concerns about the implications of the legislation directly with Prime Minister Blair, and has recently met again the Finucane family and its legal representatives. He also raised the case in his recent discussions with President Bush over the St. Patrick's Day period.

The Government is deeply disappointed that, despite its serious concerns and those of others, including Judge Cory and Lord Saville, the Bill was enacted on 7 April. The House can be assured that the Finucane family will continue to receive the full support of the Government in their pursuit of a full public inquiry that is compliant with the Weston Park agreement and the key requirements set out in the Cory report.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his representations to the British Government over the PSNI's continuing use of plastic bullets and the recent vote of the policing board to introduce a new plastic bullet; his views on whether plastic bullets are lethal devices; and his further views on the demand that they be removed from use. [11484/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In ongoing discussions with the British Government through the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, the Government has consistently argued for the implementation of Patten recommendations 69 and 70 on finding an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to plastic baton rounds. The Government will continue to support the search for alternative policing approaches to the management of public order situations.

The policing board agreed to proceed with the deployment of the attenuated energy projectile, pending further research, on the basis of its increased safety and the fact that this brings the PSNI into line with police services in Scotland, England and Wales under guidelines established by the Association of Chiefs of Police. The SDLP dissented, and also pointed out that PBRs have not been fired in Northern Ireland for well over two years.

On the more positive side, there has also been a welcome overhaul in the approach to public order situations in Northern Ireland in recent times. For example, other options are now available to the PSNI, such as the use of water cannons. This has been brought about because of the new policing structures, in which the SDLP plays a key part, and has been reinforced both by a revision of the guidelines and training for use of plastic bullets and by the introduction of a reporting arrangement whereby each firing of a plastic bullet must be referred to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland for investigation.