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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Pat Finucane inquiry

Summary

Deputy Adams asked what had been done to implement Weston Park commitments and secure an inquiry into Pat Finucane's murder after the Belfast Court of Appeal ruling. The Taoiseach said he had asked for the judgment, praised the Finucane family's persistence, and said the matter should be dealt with under legacy arrangements.

Will the Taoiseach tell the Dáil what the Government has done to implement the Weston Park Agreement of 2001 between the British and Irish Governments? The Ceann Comhairle will know that this commits both Governments to hold inquiries if a judge appointed to examine four cases recommended so. Judge Cory recommended that four inquiries should be held, and three have taken place, but the British Government has refused to hold an inquiry into the murder of human rights lawyer, Pat Finucane. Yesterday, the Court of Appeal in Belfast dismissed the appeal by the Finucane family against the British Government's actions. I commend Geraldine Finucane and the Finucane clan for their courage and perseverance. Yesterday, when I raised this issue with the Taoiseach, he said that he had asked for a report. Will he brief the Dáil on this? Will he bring the case of Pat Finucane before the United Nations, the European Union, to the Government of the United States and to every other available international forum?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I commend Geraldine Finucane and her family on following through on this and I note her comments yesterday. I have asked for a copy of the judgement, which I have not yet received and which I will need to read. Deputy Adams and I have discussed this before. Clearly the Fresh Start agreement in respect of legacy issues, in my view and the view of the former British Prime Minister, has the potential to have released all files and information held on persons who suffered, and in many cases died, during the troubled times.

I think this is a case that should be dealt with. Judge Cory made his recommendations and they were followed through in this jurisdiction, where he made those recommendations, but not in Northern Ireland. I would like to read the judgment in full and have a report furnished to me on it. I am quite happy to have it raised when I have had an opportunity to read those and to see where it might be possible to follow through. As I have said to the Deputy previously, if people are serious about providing information about loved ones who were bombed, shot or killed or where loss of life occurred, that capacity is inherent in the Weston Park agreement and also in the Fresh Start agreement. I would like people to live up to their responsibilities and provide the information so that loved ones and family members can bring closure to these things that happened so long ago.

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