82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will raise with the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the need for the UK Government to respond in a meaningful way to the unanimous requests of the Oireachtas in relation to the need to ensure comprehensive investigations into atrocities including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and other criminal incidents in the border region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58446/26]

This year marked the 52nd anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings and my Department was represented at the commemoration on Talbot Street in May. My thoughts remain with the families who continue to seek the truth of what happened to their loved ones on that day.

I spoke with the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Christ Bryant MP, on Tuesday last week, shortly after his appointment.

We discussed our key priorities for Northern Ireland in the months ahead, particularly the need to progress the implementation of the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles, agreed last year by the two Governments. Reciprocal co-operation is at the heart of the Joint Framework, which commits the British Government to provide "cooperation to Ireland for investigations, inquiries and inquests" in this jurisdiction.

The Government has long-standing requests in place to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents held by the British Government relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. These requests arise from successive all-party motions adopted by this House.

I raised the Dublin Monaghan bombings with the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, at the British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Hillsborough Castle on 30 April. I will continue to raise the matter with the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant MP.

The delay in the publication of the full report of Operation Denton, a review of the Glenanne gang cases, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which was expected last year, has been disappointing. Officials from my Department remain in contact with the Operation Denton team. We hope the report can be published within a reasonable timeframe and that its findings may help shed light on what happened on that awful day.