Government to allow Omagh bomb inquiry access State materials

A point of contact between the inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing and the Department of Justice has been established, which will manage all requests for materials from the inquiry team. Picture: Paul McErlane/PA

The Government has reached an agreement with the Omagh bombing inquiry to allow materials from the Irish State be accessed by investigators.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan received Cabinet approval for the signing of a memorandum of understanding with inquiry chairman Alan Turnbull.

A point of contact between the inquiry and the Department of Justice has now been established, which will manage all requests for materials from the inquiry team.

The memorandum also outlines the processes for disclosing information beyond the inquiry, as well as for their destruction or retention once the inquiry has concluded.

Mr O’Callaghan said the agreement provides “transparency” on how Government will fulfil its prior commitments to the inquiry on disclosure.

He confirmed the department is already managing requests for information from the inquiry team and is engaging with authorities like the Gardaí. He added: 

The need for any further action to be taken by the Government in the course of, or following the conclusion of the Inquiry, will be kept under review. 

Meanwhile, the Government have also approved new legislation to regulate short-term lets after Cabinet approval stalled last week.

The new laws will see the introduction of a short-term letting register, as well as new regulations that would ban the use of short-term lets for more than 90 days in towns of more than 10,000 people.

Enterprise minister Peter Burke said it was important the Government works to achieve a balance between tourism and housing.

Despite the delay, Mr Burke said there were no meaningful changes between this week and last week on the bill.