Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with members of the British Government in relation to the need for an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51946/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Over 3,500 people died during the Troubles. The suffering of their relatives and friends endures to this day. There is no hierarchy of loss or grief for these families. However, both Governments accepted at Weston Park that certain cases from the past remained a source of grave public concern, particularly those giving rise to serious allegations of collusion by the security forces in each of our jurisdictions. Both Governments therefore committed to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion in the cases, of the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Pat Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright. The Government's position continues to be to fulfil the commitments we entered into at Weston Park, most specifically in this jurisdiction to carry out an inquiry into the murders of Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan. In line with this approach, we continue to call on the British Government for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. This is an approach which has cross-party support in the House of the Oireachtas.

It is clear from my extensive consultations during recent visits to Northern Ireland that the past is having a corrosive effect on political life and on community relations. The current All-Party talks under the chairmanship of Richard Haass present an opportunity currently to build positive momentum towards finding the right mechanisms to deal with the past. In the longer term, dealing with the Past will require the ongoing commitment of both Governments, of all the Parties in Ireland, North and South, and also the support of wider society.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or with members of the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the recent comments of the PSNI Chief Constable regarding the increased illegal and violent activities by groups describing themselves as dissidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51947/13]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and with the justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the concerns expressed by local communities in Northern Ireland about the increased violent activity by so-called dissidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51960/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.

I issued a strong statement on behalf of the government following the attempted bomb attack in Belfast's Victoria Street on Sunday 24 November, calling on the public to share any information relevant to the investigation with the PSNI. I know that I speak for all members of the Oireachtas in our repudiation of such incidents. The people behind such violence have neither mandate nor legitimacy and their methods are repugnant to the will of the Irish nation for peace and reconciliation in Ireland.

As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is resolved to support the Northern Ireland Executive and the PSNI in overcoming the current security challenges and demonstrating that democratic politics within that framework is the sole basis for peace and reconciliation.

There is close, ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI and taking actions against these criminals is a continuing priority for both police services. The Gardaí work seamlessly with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in actively bearing down on these criminal terrorists and on the organised crime gangs to which they are linked. The Garda Commissioner and the PSNI Chief Constable place strong emphasis on the close and high quality co-operation between the two police services and the shared determination to face down the paramilitary threat.