International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Mark Ward (SF), Dublin Mid-West

I move amendment No. 9:
In page 7, to delete lines 7 to 11 and substitute the following:
“(5) A relevant head to whom a request for assistance is made shall notify the former office holder of the request. The consent in writing of the former office holder shall be required only where the former office holder demonstrates that answering the specified question would give rise to a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice to their legal rights or to the performance of functions lawfully exercised during their tenure. A refusal to consent shall—
(a) be provided in writing,
(b) set out the specific grounds relied upon, and
(c) be subject to review by the Chairman for adequacy and reasonableness.”.
Amendment No. 9 is about ensuring that the process delivers truth for families. It clarifies that a former officeholder may withhold consent only when they can show a substantial, objective, reasonable risk to their legal rights or past lawful functions. Any refusal must be written, specify the grounds relied upon and can be reviewed by the inquiry chair for adequacy and reasonableness. This safeguard is important because it limits refusals to genuine demonstrable risks, requires written justification and ensures the inquiry chair can review decisions, strengthen transparency and prevent unjustified barriers to providing evidence.
Amendment No. 19 seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of this legislation in helping the families of victims and survivors of the Omagh bombing to get to the truth. The amendment provides that a former Minister’s consent is only required where they can show a substantial objective, reasonable risk to their legal rights or past lawful functions. Any refusal must be written, set out on specific grounds and may be reviewed by the inquiry chair for adequacy and reasonableness.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29