Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 678: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the call for a public inquiry into the murder of a person (details supplied) on 12 February 1989 as recommended by a former Canadian Supreme Court judge following his appointment to review same and other cases following the Weston Park agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1401/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government fully supports the holding of a public inquiry into the murder of Mr. Pat Finucane on 12 February 1989 as recommended by Judge Peter Cory in his report of 1 April 2004.

The British Government has proposed establishing an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. Since the Inquiries Bill was first published, the Government has had concerns that the legislation would not allow an inquiry established under it to meet the necessary standards of independence and openness, in line with the commitment made by the Governments at Weston Park and in line with the recommendations of Judge Cory.

The Government has raised these concerns repeatedly with the British authorities, including in contacts between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister. The Government has outlined its position in statements at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and at the Council of Europe. The Taoiseach also raised the matter with President Bush when they met in March 2005.

I also raised this issue with Secretary of State Hain on a number of occasions, including at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in June 2005 and again at our meeting in Belfast on 19 December, reiterating our call for an inquiry into this matter that was both independent and public.

The Government has maintained regular contact with the family of Mr. Pat Finucane and I met them on 15 November 2005. The Government will continue to give its strong support to the family in its pursuit of a full public inquiry that is compliant with the Weston Park agreement and the key requirements set out in the Cory report.