Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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325. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent report on the Loughinisland massacre that confirmed there was police collusion. [19368/16]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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326. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the report on the massacre in Loughinisland with the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron. [19369/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.

The report by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland into the events surrounding the appalling attack and murder of six men in Loughinisland in 1994 causes deep concerns.

My thoughts are first and foremost with the families of these victims for whom this report will be a very difficult reminder of their loss and pain. The Ombudsman’s report fundamentally vindicates the concerns the families have raised over many years and their continuing search for justice.

The Ombudsman’s findings are deeply disturbing; in particular his determination that “collusion is a significant feature of the Loughinisland murders”.

The report must be carefully examined with a view to the question of further investigations and possible prosecutions. The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has made clear that the PSNI remains firmly committed to investigating any leads that arise that could lead to prosecutions of those responsible for these appalling sectarian murders.

Despite its disturbing findings, the report is an important reminder of the central importance of the Police Ombudsman in supporting public confidence in the new policing arrangements in Northern Ireland, as envisaged in the Patten Report. I welcome the full cooperation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland with the Police Ombudsman’s investigation.

Cases involving collusion such as the Loughinisland Massacre, must be adequately addressed if we are to achieve a genuinely reconciled society. Successive Irish Governments, in our ongoing bilateral relations with the UK and through the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg, have consistently raised the issue of collusion with the British Government, and will continue to do so.

I raised the Police Ombudsman’s report into the Loughinisland killings during my bilateral meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last week. Secretary of State Villiers also welcomed the report, noted her support for the work of the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland, and echoed the concern over the Ombudsman’s finding that collusion was a ‘significant feature’ in the murders. The Secretary of State and I agreed that cases such as these serve as a stark reminder of the need to agree mechanisms for dealing with the painful legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.

Accordingly, both Governments remain committed to the establishment of the Stormont House legacy institutions as soon as possible and continue to work to achieve this with the Northern Ireland Executive and opposition political parties, as well as broader society.

This determination is underscored by the Government’s view that the comprehensive provisions of the Stormont House Agreement for dealing with the legacy of the past offer the best prospect of bringing whatever healing is possible to those affected by the Troubles – including those affected by collusion. For this to be achieved, it is vitally important that the envisaged legacy institutions would have the trust and confidence of the victims and survivors and their families. Their needs will therefore remain central to the Government’s approach in this area.

I am hopeful that agreement can be reached on the outstanding issues in the near future and that work can finally get underway on establishing the legacy institutions.