A new Irish law enabling senior inquiry officials to request sworn testimony from serving and former members of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and other state bodies took effect on Monday.

The International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026 was commenced by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan on 12 June. It gives the chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry the power to seek evidence from a range of Irish state witnesses for the first time.

Each request will be considered on its merits, and can be refused to protect state sovereignty or security, to safeguard criminal investigations or to protect human life. Once testimony is given, a High Court judge will certify the transcript before it is passed to the inquiry chairman, who decides whether the material can be published.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, is examining whether UK authorities could have prevented the 1998 Real IRA car bomb in Omagh, Co Tyrone. The attack killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Evidential hearings are set to resume on 21 September, focusing on the bomb’s construction, warning calls, claims of responsibility, arrests and subsequent court proceedings.

More than 20,000 pages of documentary material have already been provided by the Irish government under a Memorandum of Understanding that has been operating for over a year. Separate data protection regulations to facilitate sharing of personal data were signed last November.

Minister O’Callaghan described the law’s commencement as a major step in fulfilling the government’s programme commitment to support the inquiry. He added that recent legislative proposals on Troubles legacy, together with this measure, showed Dublin would not be found wanting in addressing the past.