Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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371. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46370/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The troubles on this island brought with them a tragic human cost in terms of the lives lost, the people injured and the families bereaved by the many acts of violence, such as the bombings in Dublin and Monaghan.

Mr. Justice Henry Barron carried out a detailed independent inquiry into those awful events and other atrocities that took place between 1972 and 1976 in which so many innocent people lost their lives. Related matters were also investigated by the McEntee Commission of Investigation. Arising from the report of the Barron Inquiry and the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights the Garda Commissioner appointed a dedicated liaison officer for the victims of the bombings in Dublin in 1972 and 1973 and in Dublin and Monaghan in 1974. This dedicated liaison service has been in place since then and it is currently provided by a Garda Superintendent based at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Dublin.

It is the policy of An Garda Síochána to provide effective liaison with the victims of crime and their families. The Garda authorities are strongly aware of the importance of victims in the criminal justice system and will continue to make efforts to ensure their needs are met, particularly in respect of making information available to them. The Garda authorities are conscious of the need to ensure that the liaison process is operated in order to best address the needs of the individual victims while at the same time ensuring that criminal investigations would not be in any way compromised.

In achieving this and in the interests of operational effectiveness, Garda liaison with the victims of serious crime and their families is provided directly to them from the Garda Division and investigation team which is investigating the case at hand. The Gardaí in the Division which is investigating a case are in possession of the detailed and up-to-date information with regard to it and are, therefore, best placed to interact with the victims and their families. Such interaction is done directly by or under the supervision of the relevant Garda Superintendent. I am sure the Deputy will agree that we must always be conscious that the victims of crime are individuals with individual needs and that any approach must take into account their specific requirements.