The Government is seeking legal advice on whether it can permit gardaí to give evidence in a civil case in the British courts against those allegedly responsible for the Omagh bombing.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, indicated a willingness to allow gardaí to give evidence in the case in Belfast by the families of the 29 people killed in attack five years ago.
The Minister said: "I can confirm the Irish Government is willing to help in any way, subject to the advice of the Attorney General, and provide any relevant evidence that we can in this case."
Mr McDowell was speaking yesterday after meeting two lawyers for victims' families, who will travel to Dublin next Monday for a meeting with the Minister.
A solicitor for the families, Mr Jason McCue, said that any legal difficulties surrounding the appearance of gardaí in civil proceedings outside the jurisdiction were surmountable.
Meanwhile, a woman being questioned by police about the Omagh bombing was last night released without charge.
Detectives continue to question her husband at Gough Barracks in Armagh city. The man has been questioned before by police about the bombing, the single worst atrocity in the 30-year history of terrorist violence in Northern Ireland.
He is also being questioned about a series of other attacks carried out by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process.