Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Defence the actions he will take following the publication of the investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7218/06]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Defence the changes that he will make to internal Defence Force procedures following the publication of the investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7215/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Defence if, following the recent Hurley review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Private Kevin Barrett in 1999 while serving in south Lebanon, the Government will be launching a fresh investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7480/06]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will give details of the independent review that was recently published into the way in which the Defence Forces handled certain issues arising from the death of a person (details supplied); the main recommendations that were made by the review; the action he has taken following its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7185/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 34, 48 and 56 together.

Private Kevin Barrett died on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th Infantry Battalion in Lebanon. His death was the subject of a UN board of inquiry and an Irish contingent board of inquiry as well as a military police investigation. The coroner for north-west Donegal also held an inquest into the death of Private Barrett from 5 to 8 September 2005. The jury in the inquest returned an open verdict.

I met Mrs. Barrett, who was accompanied by her solicitor, on 4 October 2005. During my meeting with Mrs. Barrett, I gave her an undertaking to have the interaction between my Department-Defence Forces and her and Private Barrett's family reviewed by an independent person.

On 28 October 2005, I appointed Mr. Sean Hurley to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence-Defence Forces and parents and family of Private Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death. I received his report on 2 February 2006.

Mr. Hurley has conducted a very thorough inquiry and has provided a detailed and frank report. It is clear and concise and covers the issues raised with me by Kevin Barrett's family. Mr. Hurley has looked in detail at how the Department and the Defence Forces interacted with the Barrett family after Kevin's death and has identified some clear failings and shortcomings. Copies of the review were provided to the Barrett family and their legal advisers on 3 February 2006 and the full report was published on my Department's website on 6 February 2006.

I accept the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report and I assure the Barrett family that I will act on these. Important lessons have been learnt for the future and errors that have occurred in the handling of this tragic case, outlined by Mr. Hurley, must never be repeated. Mr. Hurley acknowledges that some of these have since been addressed in the new Guidelines for Dealing with Bereaved Families introduced by the Defence Forces in 2001. These guidelines will now be reviewed to include Mr. Hurley's recommendations.

Immediately on receipt of Mr. Hurley's report, I contacted the Garda Commissioner and asked him to provide me with his early views in relation to any possible assistance that the Garda Síochána might be in a position to provide. A Garda officer has since been assigned to the case and is currently examining my Department's and the Defence Forces files in the case with a view to determining whether the gardaí can provide any assistance in the matter.

I want to repeat my apology to the Barrett family for the pain and suffering they endured following Kevin's tragic death. I also want to thank the Barrett family for their patience and co-operation in the preparation of this review. I have asked to meet with the family in the coming weeks, after they have had sufficient time to consider the report.