Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the commitments made to the families of the victims of the Kingsmill massacre in March 2015; and the actions she has taken since. [22962/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It has been the long-standing desire of the Government and the Garda Authorities to co-operate to the greatest degree possible under the law with the Northern Ireland Coroner's Inquest into the horrific murders of ten innocent people at Kingsmill, Co. Armagh by the Provisional IRA in January 1976.

The Garda Authorities have been engaged in an ongoing legal process to facilitate this co-operation in discussion with the Northern Ireland Coroner's Office. Particular legal issues arose in the process of the preparation of material by An Garda Síochána for transmission the Coroner. The Government identified a way forward to help provide a means to deal with some of the legal obstacles.

On 3 June 2015 the Government agreed these measures and also formally agreed that as much information as possible, in accordance with the law, should be provided to the inquest. I issued a Directive to the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and I made Regulations under the Data Protection Act 1988, both of which I laid before the Oireachtas. The Directive and Regulations have facilitated the Garda Authorities and, accordingly, the process of transferring material to the Northern Ireland Coroner commenced on 12 June.

The Garda Authorities will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Coroner to ensure that the greatest amount of material possible, in accordance with the law, can be provided in support of the Inquest.