Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his counterpart in the UK Government in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; if he will provide an update on the independent police team's analytic report into the Glenanne series of cases that was announced by the PSNI on 30 November 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32085/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to actively pursuing the implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions with respect to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, as highlighted in the Programme for Government, and has consistently raised the issue with the British Government, including at the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference. I raised this issue most recently in my meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 8 October in Hillsborough.

The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin-Monaghan bombings that was adopted by Dáil Éireann on 25 May 2016, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, calls on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

We have made clear to our counterparts that the absence of a response from the British Government is of deep concern to the Government, and that there remains an urgent need for a response.

The Government welcomed the announcement by the PSNI on 30 November 2019 that former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher would head an Independent Police Team to conduct an analytical report on collusion in what has become known as the Glenanne Gang series of cases. This is very relevant to a number of cases including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

This work is currently ongoing and the Government will remain strongly supportive of facilitating these investigations, in accordance with the law, and as we have other investigative processes in Northern Ireland dealing with Troubles cases.

The Government will also continue to closely monitor the outcome of all such relevant investigations, as we pursue all possible avenues to achieve progress on the Dáil Motions, and the request made by this House to the British Government.