Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I fully support the motion and join with the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, in expressing my sympathy as Leader of the House with the victims of the Stardust disaster and their families. Some members of the victims' committee are here today and they are very welcome.

Nobody will forget St. Valentine's Day 1981. We had been at the Ard-Fheis and were on our way home and I have never seen so many emergency services vehicles on the streets of Dublin at approximately 2 a.m. that morning - ambulances, fire engines and Garda cars. We will never forget the activity on the streets of Dublin that morning. When we got up later in the morning we realised the terrible tragedy that took place in Dublin. From 1979 the most joyous occasion in my lifetime was the visit of the Holy Father to the Phoenix Park, and then we had this terrible disaster on St. Valentine's Day 1981, which was probably the saddest. As has been said in this House by a colleague today, we will never forget it. It was the saddest day in the history of Dublin in our lifetime.

Mr. Paul Coffey, SC, has been widely praised here and rightly so. The recommendations of his report have the backing of the Government and give rise to today's motion, providing an opportunity to address the long-standing concerns as to the cause of the Stardust fire. As the Minister of State said, the Coffey report highlights that the original finding of probable arson was hypothetical only and not fact. Mr. Coffey's report calls on the Government to put on record the original finding that there is no evidence that the fire was started deliberately and that the truth is that the cause of the fire is unknown.

None of the young people attending the Stardust can be held responsible for or implicated in the fire. The Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, has put this on the record of the House on behalf of the Government. He said:

I therefore acknowledge that the Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry on the Fire at the Stardust Artane, Dublin on 14 February 1981, at paragraph 6.167 states as follows: "The cause of fire is not known and may never be known. There is no evidence of an accidental origin: and equally no evidence that the fire was started deliberately."

I have enormous experience in the entertainment industry since 1963, and this fire was everybody's nightmare and horror. Many of examples that were found to apply that night have resulted in many changes to standards, and thank God for it. The Government has accepted Mr. Coffey's discretionary recommendation that arrangements be put in place to ensure the outstanding medical or counselling needs are met. It is essential that this be done. Our understanding of how to respond to a tragedy of this nature, the importance of counselling and support, has evolved dramatically, as we all know, since 1981. The skills and expertise acquired should be put in place and put into effect in this instance.

There have been major changes since 1981 in the responsibilities for the prevention of fire and the protection of the public in the event of fire. The Fire Services Act 1981 quickly introduced an entirely new regulatory regime with widespread impact. While none of us can say a tragedy of this magnitude could not happen again, part of the legacy of the Stardust is that the mechanisms now in place were inspired by the shocking realisation of what could happen in the absence of proper safeguards.

I praise the efforts of the victims' committee and its solicitor for their dedication and determination over the years. While our words are of little significance relative to their great loss, I hope today's motion is some small comfort or vindication. As I have said, I will never forget the Stardust disaster. It is fitting that the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, is here today. As we all know, his late father was seriously concerned to do anything he could in his time. I acknowledge that here today.