Written answers

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1220. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals to discuss with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and/or the British Foreign Secretary the motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann requesting the British Government to release the papers and/or files pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34822/14]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The 40th anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings on 17 May this year was a reminder to us all of the painful legacy of that terrible day, and of the questions that remain unanswered. This year, in support of the families of the Dublin Monaghan families and of other victims of the Troubles in this jurisdiction, my Department will provide €48,000 for Justice for the Forgotten.

The Taoiseach participated in a memorial event which took place on Talbot Street on 17 May and my Department was represented at a wreath-laying ceremony in Monaghan on 18 May. I welcome the continued all-party support for the campaign on behalf of the Dublin/Monaghan families.

I raised the issue of the British Government granting access to these documents when I met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers in Belfast on 30 July. She assured me that she would reflect afresh on what the British Government can do to respond. She confirmed that there was ongoing work within their system on what it may be possible to do but she was not in a position to provide a definitive response at that stage. In the course of a telephone conversation this morning, I again raised the issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Officials from my Department will continue to pursue this issue and I will continue to raise it at ministerial level.

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