Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on contacts he is maintaining, within the remit of his Department, with the British authorities in respect of the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998; if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body on 20 October 2008, to support a motion on the subject and to strong views of many people here that issues relating to Omagh, and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, must be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37314/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In answering the Deputy's Question I would first like to say that I do not think any of us will ever forget the horrific events perpetrated in Omagh, and in Dublin and Monaghan, or the pain that is still being felt as a result. The Deputy will be aware that I and my officials have regular contacts with our British counterparts to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the area of security co-operation and these have included issues arising from the investigation into the Omagh bombing. I am also aware that the matter was the subject of a motion adopted at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

In the context of the remit of my Department, the Garda Síochána maintains close contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to all matters of cross-border crime, including the investigation into Omagh. I would remind the Deputy that criminal proceedings continue in this jurisdiction in connection with the bombing and it would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment in detail. It is also the case that Garda officers recently made themselves available to give evidence to the civil action being undertaken in Northern Ireland in relation to the Omagh bombing, which was facilitated by the hearing of this evidence in Dublin.

The wider question of dealing with the past is among the issues being considered by the Consultative Group on the Past, co-chaired by Archbishop Robin Eames and Denis Bradley. The Government welcomed the establishment of the Consultative Group and has remained in close contact with it.