Stardust victims and criminal justice Bill
Thomas Broughan asks about the criminal justice Bill and renewed engagement with Stardust victims’ relatives before the anniversary. The Taoiseach says the Bill is due next year and awaits any new evidence from the group’s legal adviser.
Where exactly is the criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill at? Last Thursday, the Tánaiste told me in this Chamber that he is prepared to meet representatives of the Stardust relatives and victims committee. As the Taoiseach knows, the 33rd anniversary of that terrible event will be marked on Thursday and Friday of this week. The Taoiseach will be aware that the leader of this committee, Ms Antoinette Keegan, spent 24 hours at the security hut at the entrance to his Department last week. I do not think he availed of that opportunity to meet Ms Keegan. I understand that during the 2011 general election campaign, he gave a commitment to call immediately for a commission of investigation into the disaster, once and for all, to deal with this legacy issue. I wonder whether he has given any more thought to that. Will he meet the people concerned?
Comment on this
The criminal justice Bill is due next year. As I have made clear here previously, when I spoke to members of the group, they informed me that their legal adviser was in a position to produce new evidence. My view was that if the legal adviser has new evidence, it should be produced. My understanding was that they intended to do that.
Comment on this
They say the Taoiseach made a commitment during the campaign.
