A Fianna Fáil delegation led by Spokesperson Brendan Smith TD met with Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, the British Ambassador Dominick Chilcot and officials in Leinster House today to discuss the current situation in the North, the barriers to agreement on the Haass process and the need to get the truth for the families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

Deputy Smith commented, “Meeting with Secretary of State Villiers today was a useful and welcome opportunity to hear the British perspective on the current situation in Northern Ireland. I made Fianna Fáil’s continued support for the peace process absolutely clear and we discussed at some length the need for agreement on the issues underlying the Haass talks. As part of this, I reiterated Fianna Fáil’s support for more funding to cater for the needs of victims and their families.

“We also took the opportunity today to raise the continuing need for truth on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I explained to the Secretary of State and the British Ambassador that with the 40th anniversary of the atrocity approaching, the time must finally have come for the families to get answers.”