THE GOVERNMENT has almost finalised its review of the new evidence on Bloody Sunday, the Dail was told. "We hope to have our work on this concluded in a very short time, and then present the facts to the British government," the Tanaiste said. Mr Spring added that the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs were assessing new information and evidence. ,The first requirement was to make sure there was authentic information contained in the evidence.

He was replying to the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who asked if the Government was calling for a new full scale inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday, given the evidence that was there from three different sources to prove that the Widgery tribunal had covered up "an act of state terrorism". He claimed the Taoiseach's position on the matter had been "shifting and uncertain" in recent days.