Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the contact between himself and senior Unionists prior to the passing of the motion concerning the Smithwick tribunal on 1 June 2011. [15012/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will elaborate on his comments on 31 May 2011 regarding the Smithwick tribunal that if for some reason the inquiry is unable to conclude its business in the time requested by Government, he will consider that. [14530/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has discussed the Smithwick tribunal with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the North. [14524/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 153 to 155, inclusive, together.

The Deputy will be aware that on 1 June 2011 the Dáil passed a Resolution amending the terms of reference of the Smithwick Tribunal of Inquiry to require it to provide an interim report to the Clerk of the Dáil not later than 30 June 2011 and to present its final report to the Clerk of the Dáil not later than 30 November 2011.

I stated to the House that Judge Smithwick had previously indicated to me that the Tribunal would be able to conclude its work in the timescale now established in the amended terms of reference. I emphasised in my statement to the Dáil that if, for an unforeseen reason, the Chairman found that he could not conclude his inquiries and report finally by 30 November 2011, he could report that matter and the Oireachtas could consider it further. I also made very clear that the Government's response would be fully cognisant of and consistent with the need for the Tribunal to fulfil its obligations fully and as expeditiously as possible.

I spoke with the Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, and with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, to inform them of the content of my speech in Dail Eireann relating to the Smithwick Tribunal and the motion passed by the Dail on 1 June 2011.