Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I discussed the current political situation in Northern Ireland with the First Minister and deputy First Minister when I met with them in Dublin on 10 January 2014. I have spoken to each of them individually on a number of occasions since, most recently last week. During my conversations with the First Minister and with the deputy First Minister, I stated the Government’s view that we wish to see the Northern Ireland parties reach agreement on the compromise proposals which emerged from the Haass process as soon as possible and without further delay. This view is shared by the British Government. Throughout the Talks, I have made clear the Government’s view to all participants and stakeholders that there is now a unique opportunity to make further progress towards advancing reconciliation and the creation of a truly reconciled and prosperous society in Northern Ireland. That remains the Government’s view and we will continue our engagement with the Northern Ireland Political Parties and the British Government to that end.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I met with Geraldine Finucane and other members of the Finucane family, together with their legal representatives, on 17 October 2011. I have since spoken and met with her informally, including since the publication of the da Silva Report in December 2012, and have indicated my ongoing availability to her and to the Finucane family. Officials from my Department are in ongoing contact with members of the Finucane family.

Most recently, I was represented by the Irish Joint Secretary to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat at a lecture in Queen’s University, Belfast on 13 February 2014 to mark the twenty fifth anniversary of Pat Finucane’s death.

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. In line with Judge Cory’s subsequent recommendations, a Tribunal of Inquiry into the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan was established by the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2005.

With the publication of the Smithwick Report last December, the Government has fulfilled the commitments we entered into at Weston Park, 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 Houses of the Oireachtas.