Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann

Vol. 875 Tuesday, No. 1 21 April 2015 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 21/04/2015A00100Message from Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 21/04/2015A00300Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 21/04/2015A00400Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 21/04/2015A00500Dublin-Monaghan Bombings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 21/04/2015C00250Egyptian Conflict � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 21/04/2015D00600Human Rights Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 21/04/2015F00350Northern Ireland Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 21/04/2015G00500Human Rights Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 21/04/2015J00200Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 21/04/2015J00450Middle East Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 21/04/2015K00400Conflict Resolution� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 21/04/2015L00800Military Aircraft Landings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 21/04/2015N00700Departmental Strategy Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17 21/04/2015O00350Foreign Conflicts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 Easter Rising Commemorations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 21/04/2015P01000Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 21/04/2015P01200Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 21/04/2015T00350Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 21/04/2015T00375Commissions of Investigation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 21/04/2015Z01400Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 45 21/04/2015DD00300Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 21/04/2015DD00350Airport Promotion� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 21/04/2015FF00250School Completion Programme� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 59 21/04/2015GG00300IBRC Operations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 62 21/04/2015JJ00050Home Repossession � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 66 21/04/2015KK02800Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 70 21/04/2015QQ00100Self-Employed and the SME Sector: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 84 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 21 Aibreán 2015 Tuesday, 21 April 2015 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2 p.m. Paidir. Prayer. Message from Seanad 21/04/2015A00200An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Seanad Éireann has passed the Valuation (Amendment) (No� 2) Bill 2012, without amendment� 21/04/2015A00300Ceisteanna - Questions 21/04/2015A00400Priority Questions 21/04/2015A00500Dublin-Monaghan Bombings 21/04/2015A00600169� Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise again with the British Government the need to release the files and papers pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of May 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter� [15328/15] 21/04/2015A00700Deputy Brendan Smith: In May 1974 the single greatest act of carnage in the period known as the Troubles on our island resulted in the deaths of 44 innocent people from Dublin city and Monaghan town. The Dáil, in 2008 and 2011, unanimously passed a motion request- ing the British Government to give an international eminent legal person access to papers and files relating to those bombings. Unfortunately, to date, the British Government has not reacted positively to a call from a sovereign Parliament. Will the Minister ensure that he raises again with members of the British Government, at every opportunity he has, the need for it to respond positively to those calls by Dáil Éireann to release those papers and progress those investigations into the desperate and evil deeds that occurred in May 1974? 2 21 April 2015 21/04/2015B00200Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I acknowledge Deputy Smith’s long-standing interest in this matter� I assure him and the House that the Gov- ernment fully supports the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and May 2011 urging the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original docu- ments in its possession relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings� I have raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers MP, including when I met her in Belfast in January of this year and in Dublin in February. I am aware and I welcome that Deputy Smith and his party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, raised this matter with Secretary of State Villiers when they had the opportunity to meet her in February also. The Secretary of State has indicated to me on a number of occasions that the British Government would consider afresh how it can respond to these Dáil motions. I welcome the continued all-party support for the campaign on behalf of the Dublin and Monaghan families. The Justice for the Forgotten campaign, which supports victims and their families and operates as a project of the Pat Finucane Centre, received grant support of almost €50,000 in 2014 from the reconciliation fund operated by my Department. The funding will assist Justice for the Forgotten with its important work. I am aware that my officials will be meeting with representatives of Justice for the Forgotten in Belfast tomorrow in regard to the provisions for dealing with the past in the Stormont House Agreement� Indeed, I would hope to have the opportunity to meet with Justice for the Forgotten over the coming weeks, and I am conscious in that regard that the anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings falls on 17 May next. I accept that anniversaries can be a particularly difficult time for the families of victims and for survivors, and the Dublin and Monaghan families are in my thoughts as we discuss this most sensitive of issues in the House today. I wish to assure Deputy Smith of my ongoing interest� 21/04/2015B00300Deputy Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister sincerely for his interest. I keep raising this issue because we want to assure the families of the victims, and victims themselves, that we are determined, as a Parliament, to ensure proper and full investigations are carried out. Before the 41st anniversary of these awful deeds, a new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will probably have been appointed by a new British Government� Will the Minister give us an as- surance that, in his first engagement with the new Secretary of State or with members of the new British Government, he will raise this as a particular subject on which we need progress? It is absolutely unacceptable that there has not been a positive response by the British Govern- ment to the ongoing work of successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade and successive Governments, and the unanimous motions passed by this House on two separate occasions. I hope the Minister will raise this with the new incumbent, whatever party that person belongs to. 21/04/2015B00400Deputy Charles Flanagan: I assure Deputy Smith that I will continue my efforts in order to ensure this issue can be progressed. On his recent visit to Belfast, the Taoiseach made clear the importance which this Government attaches to the issue of disclosure and co-operation in deal- ing with the legacy of the past. For the Irish Government and other State authorities, this means committing to co-operating to the fullest possible

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