Moves to support agreement with Omagh probe
The Minister for Justice has taken steps to support the disclosure of material from the State to the independent inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing set up by the British Government.
Earlier this year, Minister Jim O’Callaghan signed a memorandum of understanding with inquiry chair Lord Alan Turnbull.
The agreement came after a Government decision in July 2024 to assist the inquiry “to the extent that is permissible under the Constitution and laws of the State”.
Data regulations
The minister has signed regulations under section 2B of the Data Protection Act 1988 to support the disclosure of personal data to the probe by his department in its role as the central contact point for receiving and handling requests for materials.
The regulations were made on the grounds of the “substantial public interest” in assisting the inquiry, which is investigating whether the bombing could have been prevented by British state authorities.
The Government has also approved the issuing of a directive to the Garda Commissioner under section 37 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 to support the co-operation by An Garda Síochána with the memorandum of understanding.
The directive, in particular, covers the processing of personal data in connection with the operation of the memorandum.
Legal complexities
In a statement, Minister O’Callaghan referred to the legal complexities associated with assisting an inquiry established under the laws of another sovereign state.
He said that engagement with the inquiry would continue, in order to find solutions consistent with Irish law to fulfil the Government’s commitment to assisting it.
The minister said that he expected to bring proposals to Government “shortly” to provide for the taking of oral evidence from witnesses for the inquiry.