The Taoiseach last night emphasised the "key role" the Police Ombudsman had to play in ensuring the new police service was held fully accountable to the community in the North.
In a statement, Mr Ahern said the report "raises many questions and makes a number of recommendations. It is important that these should be addressed in a manner which ensures that the people of Northern Ireland, and particularly those most immediately affected by the bombing, can be satisfied that there is the fullest possible clarity and accounting for what happened in the lead up to the bombing and in the investigation which followed."
He added that nothing should distract from ensuring that those responsible for carrying out the Omagh bombing were brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the Labour leader, Mr Ruair∅ Quinn, called for a comprehensive response to the report from the British government and the PSNI. He said the most damaging aspects of the report concerned the investigation of the bombing.
