International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Committee Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-19
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Patricia Stephenson (SD), Labour Panel

I thank the Minister of State and Senator Clonan. While the Senator's amendment on the issue of compulsion and the ability to compel witnesses was ruled out of order, I want to talk around that issue and then on to section 2.
I refer to the rationale for consent provision and the legal constraints. The Minister stated on Second Stage that he strongly expects those people whom the inquiry wants to call to give evidence will co-operate and come forward. However, that still rests on the basis and expectation that people will do that. While the amendment was ruled out of order, what concrete assurances are there within this Bill that we can give victims' families regarding the truth and accountability they so deserve?
In the wider context of traditional justice and legacy issues relating to the Troubles, many victims feel they have been let down by successive Irish governments. We heard that in January this year when victims campaigner Raymond McCord came to the Good Friday Agreement implementation committee and described the lack of confidence in the Irish Government to deliver truth, justice and transparency and to give some families some potential closure. At 28 years post the Good Friday Agreement, we cannot allow this to continue. Again, there is a call for assurances that we can provide to the families of the Omagh bombings, as well as that piece around the provision of oral evidence and how that can be assured.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:57+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-19