Taoiseach 'hopeful' day of commemoration for the victims of Stardust tragedy goes ahead

Remembrance ceremony due to be held this Sunday for the 48 young people who lost their lives

Tributes left for the victims of the stardust fire in the stardust memorial park in Dublin. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

The Taoiseach is "hopeful" that a day of commemoration for the victims of the Stardust tragedy will go ahead, but is adamant that nothing will happen without the families.

Simon Harris last month announced that a remembrance ceremony will be held for the 48 young people who lost their lives in the 1981 fire this Sunday.

Mr Harris in April extended a State apology to the families of the victims of the Stardust fire following the conclusion of the fresh inquests into their deaths.

After proceedings that lasted a year, a jury reached a majority verdict that the 48 young people who attended the Stardust nightclub in north Dublin on the night of February 13, 1981, were all unlawfully killed.

However, questions have been raised by some Stardust families about outstanding issues such as a redress scheme for those families affected.

In Clones on Wednesday, Mr Harris said that a redress scheme will proceed and that his department will engage with families to ensure the event goes ahead.

"I certainly hope that the commemoration does go ahead. But the approach I've adopted to this is nothing goes ahead without the families because we as a government are very determined to work with the families.

"The first thing was to issue the state apology. And we have been working now on a national day of commemoration that I think is really fitting and important, that as well as giving a state apology that the state commemorates the families, the victims, the survivors, along with the President of Ireland, many musicians, members of government.

"We are engaging with families, because it's important to hear their voices and the voices of their representatives."

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Mr Harris said specifically that a redress scheme will be forthcoming.

"Let me say specifically on the issue of redress, both myself and the Tánaiste and the government have been clear — redress will be provided to these families. And we are going to continue to engage with the representatives of the families to see what process is best to put in place to bring a conclusion to that."

At the same event, Mr Harris also urged Aer Lingus and pilots to "get back in the room" to negotiate and avoid a summer of travel chaos.

Mr Harris also confirmed that Irish government funding of the Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast is not contingent on the facility being ready to host a Euro 2028 football match, but said the opportunity to host a game there should not be missed.