The killing of Robert McCartney in Belfast will be "high on the agenda" in any Government discussions with Sinn Féin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern said today.
The family of Mr McCartney, who was murdered in Belfast three weeks ago, met with Mr Ahern for about 30 minutes in Leinster House this morning.
After the meeting, Mr Ahern urged anyone with any information on Mr McCartney's murder to contact the PSNI. To do so would be "patriotic", he said. He said he would ask Sinn Féin to put pressure on the IRA to remove any threat to witnesses.
Mr McCartney's sister, Ms Paula McCartney, said her family had come to Dublin to seek assurances that the Government supported their quest for justice in the wake of the fatal stabbing of her brother outside a Belfast bar on January 30th.
She said she was confident that her family had the Government's support.
Mr McCartney's family believes individual members of the IRA were involved in the murder and in subsequent attempts to frustrate the PSNI inquiry through the intimidation of witnesses.
Ms McCartney said people were afraid of "repercussions" if they came forward with evidence.
The family say they have confidence in the PSNI and believe its investigation of the murder is the best route to justice. They are also holding meetings with the Labour Party and Fine Gael today.
Speaking outside the Dáil earlier, Mr Kenny said he admired the family's courage and would do everything he could to help them.
"They have made it clear that they are not interested in doing down Sinn Féin. They just want these people brought to justice," he said.
Mr Kenny said the republican movement had to expel the killers from their ranks and bring them forward to face justice.
"They know who they are. Having strutting psychopaths going around Belfast, intimidating witnesses, is not something we can allow in a democratic political system," he said.
Last week the McCartneys welcomed an IRA statement, signed by P O'Neill, which said that no obstacle should be placed in the way of attempts to achieve justice in the case.
Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams this morning repeated calls for witnesses with information to go to the PSNI "if they have no problem with them".
"I want anybody who can help the McCartney family to help them. Sinn Féin is totally opposed to what happened to the McCartney family."