He was speaking after questioning the Secretary of State about any potential to extend the role of the ICRIR to cover the Omagh Bombing at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee today.
Mr Robinson said,“It was disappointing that the Secretary of State refused to consider the question of extending the timeframe for the ICRIR to cover the Omagh bomb, even if that was a unanimous request made across the political spectrum.
One significant reason for such an extension would be because of the potential being explored for the ICRIR to cover issues within the Republic of Ireland. That is currently absent from the ongoing public inquiry. The Secretary of State’s portrayal of the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the Inquiry was that it would see information handed over by the Irish Government.
Such a portrayal is shameful because the only information to be handed over from the Irish Government under the MOU is information held by Dublin which could highlight or identify issues by UK authorities or personnel which could have prevented the attack from taking place. There is absolutely no requirement for introspection within the Irish authorities or any steps they could have taken.
This is not the first time I have raised the Irish Government’s scandalous approach to legacy, nor the hapless approach of a Secretary of State who would thank the Irish Government for their failings and omissions. The stance taken by the Irish Government and endorsed by the Secretary of State denies victims the potential for answers from authorities of country where the bomb was planned, assembled and transported. That is the most shameful element of all.”