Written answers

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Northern Ireland

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the progress being made on the way to address the concerns of the families of the victims of the Kingsmill massacre. [24364/17]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The murder of ten innocent workmen at Kingsmill in January 1976 was an appalling atrocity and the Irish Government is committed to co-operating fully in accordance with law with the Northern Ireland Coroner’s Inquest into the Kingsmill murders in order to provide answers for the victims’ families. In line with this commitment, relevant evidential material in the possession of An Garda Síochána has already been transferred by them to the Northern Ireland Coroner.

The transfer of sensitive or personal information from one jurisdiction to another must, of course be carried out on a proper basis in order to be lawful. As there is no formal framework in place to facilitate such cooperation with a civil inquest in Northern Ireland the Government took measures in the form of a Directive under Section 25 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and making Regulations under of the Data Protection Acts which facilitated the Garda Commissioner in making material available to the Northern Ireland Coroner. These measures have facilitated the Garda Authorities to transfer material to the inquest.

The Garda Authorities have continuously sought to cooperate with the Northern Ireland Coroner and his legal team as part of what is an ongoing legal process. There have been a number of meetings with the Coroner's legal representative and ongoing exchange of correspondence aimed at providing further support to the inquest. I can assure the Deputy that every effort continues to be made to facilitate further cooperation, both formally and informally, insofar as that can be done in accordance with the law. I am also examining what additional legislative proposals might be brought forward in this regard.

The Government is fully committed to taking actions to address the painful legacy of the past in Northern Ireland and implementing the relevant provisions of the Stormont House Agreement is a priority objective, one which was prominent in the recent negotiations on the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive. The Government will continue to engage with all parties in seeking agreement on how to best advance the implementation of that framework.

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