Moves to let gardai give oral testimony to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry given priority by the Dublin government.
Legislation to allow for oral testimony of Irish police and other officials to be provided to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has been given priority by the Dublin government.
Irish justice minister Jim O’Callaghan obtained government approval for the priority drafting of the bill at cabinet yesterday.
The proposed legislation will provide a bespoke legal mechanism to facilitate the taking of sworn testimony from State bodies before a judge of the Irish High Court at the request of the chairman of the inquiry.
Work on drafting the bill is to commence “immediately” with a view to it being in place for the inquiry’s evidential hearings in 2026.
The hearings were due to start in March but have been postponed.
The Irish government’s proposals will be sent to the inquiry to give its chairman Lord Turnbull an opportunity to engage in the process.
The proposed legislation is modelled on mechanisms which enable the taking of oral testimony for the purposes of UK Troubles-related inquests.
The Department of Justice says the Omagh-related amendment will include new features aimed at “maximising the evidential opportunities” available to the chairman and to enhance transparency.
It said this was in the interests of the victims’ families and survivors and “their search for truth and accountability”.
Minister O’Callaghan said it was an important milestone in the Irish government’s commitment to supporting the inquiry, which he said was “legally complex” given it had been established by another sovereign state.
He said: “The legislation will add to the suite of measures already implemented.
“This includes the Memorandum of Understanding which I signed with the chairman of the inquiry last April relating to the disclosure of Irish State materials, and the Data Protection Regulations that I signed last month to enable the disclosure of sensitive personal data to the inquiry.
“Our commitment, alongside that of the UK government, is essential to addressing 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.”
The Bill is envisaged to extend the existing mechanism for oral evidence to other State bodies, as well as both current and past members of An Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces and departmental officials.