On behalf of the Independent Group, I thank staff across all the grades and work areas for their help and support and their generosity of spirit over the past Dáil term.

My question relates to the survivors and families of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I met with representatives of the families recently and I presume the situation has not changed. I was informed that despite promising he would meet the families, the Tánaiste has not yet met them. They met civil servants but they have not met the Tánaiste directly, which they were under the impression would happen.

These families have been through years of stonewalling, surveillance and hurt. There is a decades long history of mishandling and neglect from the Garda and the State. They have been waiting decades for the release of key case files. The least they deserve is for promises made to them to be kept. Will the Tánaiste confirm that he will meet with the families and update them today in the House on when the files on Operation Newham will be released?

I have met with relatives. I attend the ceremony every year.

Yes, it was at the ceremony that the Tánaiste committed to meeting the relatives.

Could Deputy Collins please allow the Tánaiste to reply?

I will meet them. There has never been an issue with meeting Relatives for Justice.

The Tánaiste has not met them.

My Department has been very helpful. I have been supportive of the work of Relatives for Justice. They certainly have not been stonewalled by the Irish State. I am very clear on that. The Irish Government has led the way in trying to put pressure on the British Government to release particular material and files on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I am still committed to it, irrespective of what happens in the general election. The future Irish Government will be very committed to pursuing this.

Could the Tánaiste confirm that he will meet them during the election, which is a busy time?

I am not playing elections with them.