Legislation that allows Irish state witnesses to give sworn oral evidence to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has come into effect.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan signed the commencement order for the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026 on 12 June, and it became operational on Monday. The law permits the inquiry chairman to request testimony from current or former members of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, and other designated state bodies.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, was established after campaigners brought legal challenges. It is examining whether UK authorities could have prevented the 1998 Real IRA car bomb in Omagh, Co Tyrone, which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Evidential hearings are set to resume on 21 September.

Under the new framework, each request for testimony will be considered individually. The law allows requests to be refused on grounds of protecting state sovereignty or security, meeting obligations to investigate crime, and safeguarding life. After testimony is given, a High Court judge will certify the transcript and provide it to the inquiry chairman, who will decide whether it can be published or disseminated.

Minister O’Callaghan described the move as a major step in the Irish government’s commitment to support the inquiry. He said a memorandum of understanding with the inquiry has been in place for more than 12 months, during which around 20,000 pages of documentary material have been disclosed. Data protection regulations facilitating the sharing of personal data were signed last November.

The minister noted that the commencement of the act, together with his recent legislative proposals on Troubles legacy, showed the government would not be found wanting in addressing the past. He said the commitment, alongside that of the UK government, was essential to meeting the legitimate needs of victims’ families and survivors seeking truth and accountability.