The Government has written to the Stardust victims and their legal representative outlining the terms of an independent examination it is proposing into the fire in which 48 people died and 200 others were injured in Dublin 26 years ago.
A Government spokeswoman said the terms of the independent examination were sent to solicitor Greg O'Neill and the families yesterday. A final decision has still to be made about who will conduct the investigation but it will only take place if the relatives agree to the terms.
The families have already objected to the name of one eminent legal figure proposed by the Taoiseach whom they said was not satisfactory. An alternative name put forward by the families was not acceptable to the Government.
The Government will not be putting forward another name until it is clear whether or not the families are agreeable to the terms of the investigation. The Taoiseach has said that there is no point proceeding with an investigation unless the families are happy with its terms of reference.
The examination being proposed by the Government would involve scrutiny of all the existing evidence and it would also involve an examination of the dossier on the tragedy compiled by the families.
That dossier about the events of St Valentine's night, 1981, was presented to the Government and the Taoiseach told the Dáil last week that he would have no problem with it being taken into account as part of the investigation.
The Government spokeswoman said Mr Ahern was anxious to get the agreement of the families to the terms of the examination. "I do not wish to publish terms of reference to which people will object. I seek agreement so there can be closure," Mr Ahern told the Dáil last week.
Mr Ahern said that he had "tried extremely hard over the last number of years but particularly over the last year to try and bring this matter on after a quarter of a century". He added: "These people are emotive and it is difficult. I do my best to deal with the families and have provided resources to their legal representatives."
