Written answers

Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Foreign Secretary about the unanimous motions passed in Dáil Éireann on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44038/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government stands in solidarity with all those impacted by the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Thirty three people were killed and hundreds seriously injured on that awful day in 1974; we will continue to seek the full truth of these appalling attacks, and some measure of closure for the victims' families and survivors, in accordance with the three Motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann to date.

The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil 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, 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 Programme for Government reiterates Ireland’s commitment to engaging with the British Government on this issue as matter of priority, in accordance with the All-Party Dáil motions.

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, including at the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference, and during regular engagement with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - I most recently raised the need for urgent progress on this issue directly with Secretary of State Lewis when we met in Belfast in October.

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 will continue to engage with the British Government on this request, at senior political level and in official level engagement by my Department, to pursue all possible avenues to achieve progress on this issue until a resolution is found.

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