A government spokesman also confirmed that an allparty motion, putting pressure on the British government, should be presented to the Dail before the Taoiseach visits Washington. The government is hoping President Bush will lobby Tony Blair on the matter.

The Finucane family is challenging the British government's insistence that any future inquiry into the 1989 murder be held under the auspices of the Inquiries Act 2005. The new law means sensitive aspects of inquiries can be held in secret. The Finucanes believe that holding an inquiry under the new legislation will continue the cover-up.