Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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329. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of discussions at political or official level regarding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. [24363/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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331. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that the need for the British Government to release the papers and files pertaining to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 is a priority issue in discussions that will be held at Government level following the British general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25668/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 331 together.

Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland are of the utmost importance to me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with specific reference to implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin Monaghan bombings.

The 17 May marked the 43rd anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which saw the biggest loss of life in a single day during the Troubles.

I was glad to participate on behalf of the Government in the commemoration ceremony on that day, to stand - along with other Deputies - in solidarity with the victims of the appalling attacks in Dublin and Monaghan, 43 years ago. As I said in addressing the commemoration ceremony, the Government is determined to continue - and to complete - our efforts to seek the truth of those awful events of 17 May 1974.

The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May last year 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 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the bombing of Kay’s Tavern in Dundalk and the murder of Seamus Ludlow.

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 has raised the issue with Prime Minister May, emphasising the Government’s continued support for the Dáil motions. I have also raised the matter on a number of occasions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, and am actively engaging with the British Government on an ongoing basis, as are my officials.

In our discussions, 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.

Further to these discussions, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 17 May this year, to formally reiterate the request on behalf of the Irish Government and Dáil Éireann and the expectation of a timely response to the all-Party Motions on the Dublin Monaghan bombings.

The Government will continue to pursue this matter with the British Government, urging them to provide a satisfactory response to the motions that have been adopted by this House. The Taoiseach and I will also continue our engagement with party leaders in the Oireachtas on the issue.

There are 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.

There has been intensive engagement on legacy issues as part of the current talks’ process in Belfast that will resume after the UK general election on 8 June. In these discussions, I have been very clear on the urgent need to achieve progress, so that the institutions can be established and start working to meet the needs of victims and survivors and to support broader societal healing and reconciliation. I have also emphasised in discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties, the need to ensure that legacy inquests are properly resourced, and urged all with responsibilities in relation to the legacy inquests to move forward as quickly as possible to implement the helpful proposals of the Lord Chief Justice.

The Government will continue its intensive engagement with the British Government and the political parties to move forward with the Stormont House legacy framework, and I hope that this can be achieved in the period immediately ahead.