DAIL REPORT: The Taoiseach said it was "gravely disappointing" that the British authorities had not provided information about the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings more quickly.
Mr Ahern said he hoped Mr Justice Barron would be able to complete his report on the bombings as soon as possible, but that depended on the amount of material he received from the British authorities. The Government, he added, had pressed Britain very hard, and it was only after direct meetings with the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, that meetings were set up.
"The question now is whether the British authorities have this information. Mr Justice Barron has established what it is he requires, and while I am not privy to it, I sense that he, and before him the late Mr Justice Hamilton, pieced together an enormous amount of information.
"They established what to look for, but whether what is sought exists, I do not know. I hope it does." Mr Ahern said that Mr Justice Barron had a useful meeting with the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, last month, and outlined his requirements. "Dr Reid promised that material would be provided within weeks. In addition, Mr Justice Barron recently met representatives of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and material is also expected from that source." He added that Mr Justice Barron had agreed his report into the bombings would reflect his consideration of other cases, including the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the Castleblaney bombing of 1976, the case of John Francis Green, and the case of Bríd Carr.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said while he acknowledged Dr Reid was trying to be helpful, he wanted to know if he actually confirmed the existence of files which might be of help to Mr Justice Barron. Mr Ahern said Dr Reid had indicated material would be made available.
