The Sinn Féin MP for north Belfast John Finucane, who's father Pat was murdered in February 1989, has welcomed the unanimous support in the Seanad tonight for a full and independent public inquiry into the killing.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told Senators of the urgent need for a full public inquiry which, he said, would be "...a powerful demonstration of the UK government's commitment to peace, justice and reconciliation".
Speaking to RTÉ News afterwards, Mr Finucane said the Seanad motion was "hugely significant", adding that it was "slightly overwhelming" to witness the cross-party support for the motion.
Mr Finucane, who watched proceedings from the public gallery, said it was a "critical time" for his family and it was "tremendous" to hear the words of support.
He said the voice coming from Dublin was "loud and clear from all levels" and he was "sure the United Kingdom would be listening to that. And I hope they heed the words that were said in the chamber tonight."
Pat Finucane, 39, was shot by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his family amid claims of collusion between the killers and security forces.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that the Oireachtas was of one mind on the need for an inquiry.
He told the Dáil: "I will be engaging with the British Prime Minister on this issue and making it very clear the consistent view of successive Irish governments that there should and must be a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane."
He was responding to a question from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who said that only a public inquiry would assist the Finucane family in getting the truth.
It was agreed between the British and Irish governments in Weston Park talks in 2001 that an inquiry should be held.
Mr Martin said that where sovereign governments entered into an agreement, it should be adhered to and he said he was asking the British government to do the right thing.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is deciding whether to order an inquiry by the end of November.
