Written answers

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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416. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State or British Foreign Secretary in relation to 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. [45240/14]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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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 on 17 September, 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.

The need to establish a fair, balanced and comprehensive framework for dealing with the past is currently under discussion at the political talks in Belfast convened by the British and Irish Governments. The Government continues to believe that a framework for dealing with the past that better meets the needs of victims and survivors, while also contributing to the peace and reconciliation agenda, is an urgent requirement.

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