Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

With all due respect to the Taoiseach, it is not a question of the reassurances he gave anybody and everybody. It is about what Mr. Blair said to the Taoiseach, when they met during the past two weeks, about a full proper public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. How does the Taoiseach interpret the intention of the British Government to hold the inquiry into that murder on the basis of legislation which can and will see vital evidence withheld? Does he believe the British Government wants to cover up the collusion between the killers of Pat Finucane and the forces of the British State? Did he put that point baldly to Prime Minister Blair when he met him?

The Northern Ireland Office stated the motion demanding a proper inquiry passed by the Dáil was fundamentally flawed and misleading. What did the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Hain, state to the Taoiseach regarding that? Did he contact the Government verbally or in written form following on from that motion? If so, what did he state exactly?

When will the Taoiseach leave diplomatic niceties aside and square up to Prime Minister Blair on this issue? We have been around the garden in the same way seeking information on the horrific bombings in Dublin, in which collusion is also suspected, and we are no further forward. Will we be back in this House again next year with the Taoiseach having failed to get from the British Government any real commitment to bringing out the truth of this horrific murder? Is it not time for him to deliver on this and expose Prime Minister Blair in front of the world as a hypocrite if necessary——

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