Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his answer. I accept his assertion that he does not have the information that he mentioned - how could he have it? However, I have the two Coffey reports here. It is important to note that the Coffey report was submitted to the Government on 10 December 2008. It is clearly a report with his findings, conclusions and recommendations. I am working my way through this and the families have a solicitor doing the necessary forensic scrutiny of the report. There were changes in the report; in particular, in the report submitted on 10 December 2008, Mr. Paul Coffey SC stated on page 70, paragraph 5.13, "I further accept that a new inquiry is necessary if it is the only way of placing on the public record a finding that is based on [fact]", yet that was left out of the report on its publication in 2009. I appreciate that the Taoiseach might not have an explanation for this omission. If he does not, that is fair enough. However, I would ask him, if he cannot tell the Dáil today why this is the case, that he undertake to do so as soon as possible.

The families have concerns, and I have listened to them, as the Taoiseach stated, as has he. However, even in terms of the original recommendation of the Coffey report that "a new inquiry is necessary", if I understand the Taoiseach's answer, he is stating that if the evidence is given to him he will open up a new commission of investigation, and that he needs the evidence to go to the proper authorities. I am looking for a little clarity on that. The fact that people are so anxious 40 years on is a sign of the trauma they all have been through. I draw that one particular point to the Taoiseach's attention and I would ask him to be open to the request that a new commission of investigation be set up.

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