Next Wednesday marks the 49th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings when 33 innocent people were murdered and hundreds badly injured. That day, 17 May 1974, was the darkest day of all during the era known as the Troubles when unfortunately, there were many bad days on this island with so much loss of life and suffering. Very regrettably nobody has been brought to justice for those heinous crimes. In 2008, 2011 and 2016 this House unanimously passed motions calling on the British Government to give an independent eminent international legal expert access to all papers and files pertaining to the Monaghan and Dublin bombings. The non-response of the British Government to the legitimate and unanimous requests of a neighbouring sovereign jurisdiction is simply unacceptable. We all know the possibility of getting prosecutions is extremely limited but the least the families deserve is the truth about who carried out those atrocities. Will the Taoiseach assure me that this very important issue will be raised with the British Prime Minister and other British Government members in all meetings and in all relevant forums? Legacy issues must be dealt with and no amnesty should ever be provided for perpetrators of despicable crimes as proposed by the British Government through its recent legislation.

I think 17 May 1974 was one of the darkest days in the history of the Troubles when a terrible atrocity was visited here in Dublin and on the people of Monaghan. In my meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Sunak, about two weeks ago in Belfast, I raised the issue of legacy and our opposition to the British Government's proposals in that regard. I met him briefly over the weekend but did not have the chance to talk to him in depth but I will certainly continue to press the case against the legacy Bill. The next time we have a chance to meet, I will specifically raise the issue of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.