The British government does not want its security operations examined publicly, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern asserted.
He was replying to Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who renewed his call on the British government to establish a full independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
Mr Ahern said Britain had set up a different type of inquiry from what Dublin had proposed. "There is no doubt that the British government is determined not to hold an examination that will bring members of MI5 and MI6, and of the security machinery, into the public light. The Government has made its position clear."
In solidarity with Geraldine Finucane, the Government would not co-operate, he added. "We continue to press for the full inquiry. We asked for an independent inquiry, such as was held in the Buchanan and other cases. As long as the British government rejects that, we will have a difference with it."
Mr Ó Caoláin said the Finucane family had not objected to the release of Ken Barrett, jailed in 2004 for Pat Finucane's murder. Rather, the family had stated he was a British agent who was protected at every stage.
"Clearly, a deal was done and a guilty plea entered into, which prevented the full truth from emerging. It was an exercise in ensuring that the role of the British forces in the murder of Pat Finucane remained behind a dark screen." Mr Ó Caoláin said the "same happened with the other British agent, Brian Nelson, who was also involved in the murder of Pat Finucane".
British collusion was ongoing, he claimed. "Does the Taoiseach not recognise that the British continue to protect their agents and there is a bounden responsibility on him, not simply to accept that there is a difference between himself and the British prime minister, but to take up the gauntlet in the interests of the Finucane family and of truth and justice?"
Mr Ahern said: "I assure the House that we will maintain our consistent efforts to highlight, and fight for, the case of the Finucane family, ably led by Geraldine Finucane and her sons."
