I have raised this question before in the House. It relates to the British Government's response to the State's ongoing request for full disclosure and access to all relevant documentation concerning the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974. We had the summary report of Operation Denton in the past few months but there is still a general frustration, despite the multiple calls by this House for disclosure of all documents relating to those terrible events of 1974. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Deputy for raising this. I know he has raised it on a number of occasions. We all agree there is no doubt that the families and survivors of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings have waited far too long for answers. We all want to get to that point for them.

The Government has long-standing requests in place to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents held by the British Government relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. These requests arise from successive all-party motions adopted by this House, which is testament to the continued importance placed on the maximum possible disclosure in the interests of providing truth to victims of these atrocities and their families. In that context, the delay in the publication of the full report of Operation Denton, a review of the Glenanne gang cases, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which was expected last year, is extremely disappointing. I understand, however, that legal issues, in particular in relation to legal proceedings currently under way in Northern Ireland, have prevented that report from being published.

Officials from my Department remain in regular contact with the head of Operation Denton, Sir Iain Livingstone. They will continue to follow up on the publication of the full report. We hope the report can be published within a reasonable timeframe and that its findings may shed light on what happened on that absolutely awful day for those involved and their families. The publication of the report would also help to maintain momentum on our broader work on legacy, particularly in the context of the implementation of the joint framework, which was agreed last year by the two Governments, and where legislation is currently going through the Houses in the UK and the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, is progressing legislation on our side.

What is essential and at the heart of getting truth for families is having that reciprocal co-operation. That is very much at the heart of the joint framework, which commits the British Government to provide "cooperation to Ireland for investigations, inquiries and inquests" in this jurisdiction. It is vice versa in that we co-operate in the same way. During any of my discussions with the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn - we have met on a number of occasions and he is absolutely committed to finding peace and truth for so many families - it is that culture where we have the most possible disclosure. This is essential for public confidence in finding truth.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra sin. As she said, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings remain one of the single darkest days of the Troubles. Constituents of mine are members of the families of victims who lost their lives in those bombings. More than 50 years on, those families are still waiting for the truth. As the Minister said, this House has been unanimous in its multiple calls for full disclosure from the British Government. Yet, it is ironic that in the same week we had the discussion and debate on the Omagh bombing inquiry Bill, where we are making our contribution to full co-operation with regard to the discussion and discovery of legacy, the same level of co-operation is not as forthcoming with regard to the findings of Denton.

While the summary report was there, what we have seen from the likes of the publication of Kenova is the importance of disclosure and openness, and the allowance of closure for families where they can see what happened in the case of their loved ones. We will then look forward to understanding our shared history and, more importantly, building that shared future. Will the Minister raise this in her next engagement with the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and push for full disclosure?

I will absolutely speak with the Secretary of State on this. The British Government is in no doubt of the desire, not just of this Government but successive Irish governments, to see the release of relevant documents to help the families of the Dublin and Monaghan bombing victims to get the truth of what happened to their loved ones. I and other Ministers have raised this regularly in our engagement with the British Government and our counterparts. At least nine letters have been sent over the past number of years specifically seeking this information. Again, the joint framework we are both working on agrees and commits to reciprocal co-operation. Once these mechanisms are in place, we will again pursue the information we have requested from the British Government.

The hope and anticipation was that we would get some of those answers through Operation Denton. We regret the fact that report has not been published. We are told the ongoing legal situation in the North is the reason it has not been published. If that can be resolved, the sooner that report can be published the sooner we can identify and get some form of clarity. If that is not provided, we will continue to engage with the UK Government.

I thank the Deputy and he can be assured that I will engage with the Secretary of State on this. We have been very clear in setting out and making sure there was trust in our request and we asked that it would be an independent, international judicial figure who would look over this information and would receive the original documents. To date, we have not received them. The focus had been on Operation Denton to see what information would be provided in it. The information that emerged from the Kenova Report was quite shocking; in fact, it was appalling in many instances. It is important that the information that was provided there that has provided some clarity for people that Operation Denton will be able to do the same.

Everybody in this House is not just of the same view but we have the same objective here: how do we bring some form of clarity? I am not sure there will be ever closure for families given it was such an appalling tragedy that happened to them. However, there might be some form of clarity that can be provided so they understand and know what happened to their loved ones. That is our objective and it is my priority. I will continue to work with the Deputy and colleagues on that.