Is mór agam an deis seo a thapú labhairt ar an mBille seo, Bille a bhfuil fáilte ann dó. Tá a fhios agam go gcuirfidh clanna na n-íobartach fáilte roimhe. Cabhróidh sé leis an bhfiosrúchán a bheidh ar siúl. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026. I strongly support this Bill, which is an essential step in honouring our commitment as the Fianna Fáil Party in the programme for Government to fully facilitate and support the Omagh bombing inquiry. It is also an important signal of our commitment to the victims, families and survivors, people who have endured unimaginable loss and have waited too long for truth, transparency and accountability. The Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998 stands out as the single worst atrocity of the Troubles with 29 people murdered, hundreds injured, families absolutely shattered and a community traumatised. The horrific irony of this is that it happened four months after the Good Friday Agreement was signed, at a moment when hope was finally emerging across the island. I still remember where I was when I learned of the awful atrocity that had been committed. When I watched the news, we had a visitor from overseas staying with us. She turned to me and said, "I thought all this violence had ended." A horror and sadness filled the entire country when we saw what happened in Omagh. The then President, Mary McAleese, captured that pain but also the determination and hope emerging across the island when she spoke in Drogheda later in 1998. She reminded us that our duty is not only to remember victims but also to ensure that their memory guides us to a future where such horrors can never happen again. She also drew attention to the fact that we needed to be mature and open, and embrace the shared histories that brought us to where we are today. Those words remain as true now as they were then. Part of that need for maturity, openness and embracing those shared histories is bringing this Bill to the Dáil and I commend the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan and the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, on that. The Bill augments the suite of measures already implemented, including the memorandum of understanding which the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, signed with the chairperson of Omagh bombing inquiry last April on the disclosure of Irish State materials and the data protection regulations signed by the Minister last month to enable the disclosure of sensitive personal data to the inquiry. Despite multiple investigations over the years, no one has been held fully accountable for the Omagh bombing. There have been legitimate questions during this time, questions around intelligence handling, cross-Border co-operation and whether more could have been done to prevent this atrocity. As these questions persist, closure evades the families of those who lost their lives. The current Omagh bombing inquiry, established by the British Government in 2024, is explicitly tasked with determining whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented by British state authorities. I have on many occasions discussed in this House the importance of the need to address the legacy of the enormous impact of Troubles-related violence and the legitimate needs and expectations of victims' families and survivors who have long searched for truth and accountability. We have a responsibility, whether it be moral, political or legal, to ensure that no delays arise from the Irish side with regard to what we can do to facilitate and support the inquiry into the Omagh bombing. This Bill gives us the mechanism to do just that. By establishing a robust statutory framework to honour our commitment to assist the inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference while also protecting the essential interests of the State and the rights of witnesses involved, this Bill creates a bespoke legal mechanism allowing all evidence to be taken under oath here in Ireland before a High Court judge for transmission to the inquiry. Importantly this is not a brand new innovation; it builds on the model used in the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019 but goes significantly further by extending participation to An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and departmental officials; by allowing family members, survivors and their legal representatives to be present during evidence taken before the High Court judge; and by allowing the chairperson of the Omagh bombing inquiry or their counsel to ask clarifying questions directly, thereby maximising the evidential value of every session while also protecting necessary safeguards, Irish national security, the rights of witnesses and the essential interests of the State. Participation by former Ministers is voluntary but the mechanism is now there. That is important because it is something that the inquiry specifically asked for. This Bill is about delivering steps towards transparency, towards accountability and towards fulfilling our commitments in good faith. In recent months we have had a lot of discussion on the issue of legacy with the publication of the Kenova report and the summary of the Operation Denton report. They have exposed deeply troubling patterns of collusion, failure to act on intelligence and decisions that cost innocent lives. The Kenova report showed British state collusion across the board. Operation Denton showed collusion with loyalist paramilitaries. These revelations underline a simple truth: legacy investigations can uncover new and vital information when there is co-operation, when there is courage and when victims' families are represented and respected as partners in the process. Both reports recognised the constructive role played by the Irish State, by our Departments and by An Garda Síochána in assisting cross-Border investigations. This Bill strengthens that tradition of co-operation, a co-operation which has been at the core of Ireland's engagement with the United Kingdom on how we address the issue of legacy. It clearly signals that we will not shy away from difficult truths, including truths that may touch on our own institutions. As An Taoiseach has said, "If you are sincere in wanting to build a real peace ... you cannot with any honesty deny so many people truth and accountability for the terrible crimes committed against their communities". I cannot let this opportunity pass without again drawing attention to the fact that there is still an unmet need for openness and accountability relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, something called for by multiple resolutions in this House. It is deeply regrettable that the full Denton report has not yet been published. Survivors and families have waited far too long. This House has on three occasions sought access for an independent, international judicial figure to all original British files relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and I repeat that call today. Openness and accountability are not merely standards we should demonstrate ourselves; we should ensure we call for them from our partners as well. I realise there are those who will say this Bill does not go far enough, who wanted extra powers of compulsion and who wanted a parallel inquiry here. I understand where those perspectives come from. This Bill does what is legally possible under our Constitution while still ensuring that substantial assistance - real, meaningful assistance - can be provided to the inquiry as it unfolds. The Government has made clear that it will keep this under constant review and that if additional steps are required either during or after the inquiry, they will be considered. The Omagh families have waited more than a quarter of a century. They deserve answers, they deserve honesty and they deserve full co-operation from every public institution on this island. This Bill is a significant, carefully constructed and necessary step towards achieving that goal, honouring a commitment made in the programme for Government and honouring our commitment as a State under the joint framework on addressing Troubles legacy issues. Most importantly, it honours the memory of the 29 people who left their homes on a warm August day in 1998 and never returned. I am proud to support the Bill and commend it to the House.

Sentiment score: 0.25