Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of any discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and the British Foreign Secretary, in relation to the need for the British Government to release files and papers pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings; if he has informed the members of the British Government that motions were passed by Dáil Éireann in 2008, 2011 and 2016 requesting the British authorities to provide access to all relevant documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29012/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Dealing with the legacy of the past relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland is a major priority for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. This commitment is reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which makes specific reference to the Dublin Monaghan bombings.

The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings adopted in this House on 25 May has, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, been conveyed to the British Government. These motions call on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the bombings.

The Government is committed to actively pursuing the implementation of these all-Party Dáil motions, and has consistently raised the issue with the British Government. The Taoiseach raised the issue with Prime Minister May at their first meeting in July, emphasising the Government’s continued support for the Dáil motions. I have also raised the matter with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, in each of our contacts since his appointment including at our most recent meeting in Dublin on 13 September.

In doing so, I have advised Secretary of State Brokenshire that the Dáil motions represent the consensus political view in Ireland that an independent, international judicial review of all the relevant documents is required to establish the full facts of the Dublin Monaghan atrocities. I have also underlined to the Secretary of State that the absence of a response from the British Government is of deep concern to the Government and indeed this House, and emphasised the urgent need for a response from the British Government.

Secretary of State Brokenshire has acknowledged the importance that the Government and Dáil Éireann attach to this case, but indicated that the British Government is still considering how it could respond in a way which would adequately address the motions and be consistent with its obligations.

The Government will continue to raise this matter with the British Government, urging them to provide a satisfactory response to the motions that have been adopted by this House. The Deputy may also be aware that this matter was discussed at the recent meeting between the Taoiseach and Party Leaders in Dáil Éireann.

There are of course many families throughout these islands and beyond who continue to deal not only with the awful pain of losing a loved one, but also with the struggle for answers decades after these traumatic events. Accordingly, the establishment of a new comprehensive framework for dealing with the past, as envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement, is a priority for the Government.

I am continuing to engage with the Secretary of State and with the Northern Ireland Executive and other parties in Northern Ireland, to see how we can to find a route to a final agreement on legacy issues. There remain a number of outstanding issues, but there is an urgent need to achieve progress, so that the institutions can be established and start working to meet the needs of victims and survivors and support broader societal healing and reconciliation. I am therefore working to secure the necessary political agreement to get the legacy bodies established and up and running as soon as possible.