The dissident republican bomb exploded in Omagh, County Tyrone, on August 15th, 1998, killing 29 people, including a pregnant woman with twins.

The UK government has set the terms of reference for the independent investigation, chaired by Lord Alan Turnbull. It will investigate alleged security failures that led a judge to conclude the tragedy could potentially have been prevented.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee obtained approval to support the inquiry during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

A Government spokesperson said this action “honours a commitment” made to the families affected by the Omagh bombing.

The spokesperson added: “Ireland has accepted the invitation from the inquiry chairman, Lord Alan Turnbull, to be represented at a preliminary hearing on July 30th.

“This is a complex process that involves working with another jurisdiction, but we have recent experience with such cooperation.

“For instance, the Omagh civil case, and we have also developed legislative means to assist inquests in Northern Ireland, such as with Operation Denton and the independent review of activities involving the Glennane gang.

“Officials will now draft a memorandum of understanding for the State’s involvement in this upcoming inquiry.”

Mr. Martin stated that the Government intends to do “everything possible” to support the inquiry.

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice are working with the inquiry team to determine the best way to engage with the investigation.

The inquiry will examine the adequacy of measures taken by UK state authorities, including the police, security forces, and intelligence agencies, to disrupt dissident republicans involved in attacks from December 1997 through the Omagh bombing.

It will also assess whether this approach changed following the Good Friday Agreement, signed in April 1998.

Additionally, the inquiry will look into alleged intelligence-sharing failures between the UK and Irish authorities in the eighteen months leading up to the bombing.

Some families of Omagh victims have repeatedly called for an inquiry to be conducted in the Republic of Ireland as well.

However, Mr. Martin has previously stated that he did not believe having two separate inquiries on either side of the border would be practical.