Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 1047: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request a special summit with the British Government on the collusion issue. [2306/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has made the issue of collusion a constant theme of our discussions with the British Government. It is consistently raised by both the Taoiseach and myself, and in meetings at official level. As recently as last evening, the Taoiseach discussed the issue with Prime Minister Blair at their meeting in London. It has also been raised in all recent meetings which I have had with Secretary of State Hain. Given the importance of the issue, a single summit meeting on the issue does not seem the most appropriate way to proceed.

The discussions with the British Government have focussed in particular on the findings of the Barron and Oireachtas Reports and, in recent days, on the deeply disturbing findings of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman's report into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Raymond McCord junior. The Government will also take into account in these discussions the Report of the MacEntee Commission of Investigation into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, scheduled to be presented on 14 February next. We will continue to press the British Government to address the serious issues to which these reports give rise, and to stress the absolute importance of ensuring that the recommendations in the Police Ombudsman's report are implemented in full.