Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the assistance which is being given to the families of Stardust victims whose bodies have still not been identified. [7916/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if new forensic techniques can assist the Stardust families as their relatives' remains were never properly identified; and if assistance will be given to the families on this matter. [8029/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 418 together.

My Department has not received a recent request for assistance along these lines. From previous inquiries, my understanding is that the authority to issue an exhumation license in these circumstances rests with the relevant local authority and that the consent of the next of kin of all those victims whose remains were not identified would be necessary for exhumations to proceed. In the event that such consent is forthcoming, it would be advisable to obtain a further expert opinion whether a DNA sample of sufficient quality to permit identification could be extracted from the remains.