The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has suggested that the British government has been slow to co-operate with the inquiry into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings as allegations persist that British security forces colluded in the attacks.
Mr Justice Barron will shortly meet the Northern Secretary Dr John Reid, to seek access to British files he first asked for eight months ago relating to his inquiry into the bombings.
The Taoiseach told the Dβil yesterday the British government had only agreed to the meeting after considerable pressure and some time. He said he had raised the delay in handing over the material with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, Dr Reid and through the British-Irish Secretariat in Belfast.
He indicated that he believed the British government had already found some records relating to the matter. "I do not know why the British system has not handed over whatever it has found, or at least given replies," he said.
Last March, he added, Dr Reid had indicated that the British search of files was nearly complete and that a reply should issue soon. This had not happened.
However a British government spokesman said last night the British authorities were co-operating fully. "Officials have been and still are involved in a manual search of the files still held by the UK government but this has proven to be a more onerous and lengthy task than first imagined. It remains our intention to respond to Judge Barron as soon as we are able," he said.
However, the Taoiseach told the Dβil that Judge Barron had been specific about what he was seeking and that "it does not require a check on every available file. I am not sure what files and records are available but I doubt if that is the problem. If it was we would have obtained some of the records because we have been pressing the issue since early last spring."
There have been persistent allegations since the bombings that members of the RUC and British security forces colluded with the perpetrators.